Security Guard Cost Per Hour — California 2026
Real 2026 rates by service tier — unarmed $32–$45, armed $55–$75, off-duty officer $85–$110. What drives the price, and how to spot a bid that's cutting corners.
This is the honest California security guard pricing sheet — the numbers our clients see in quotes across Sacramento, the Bay, LA, and the Central Valley in 2026. Every rate below assumes BSIS-licensed officers, $2M general liability, workers' comp, and a real supervisor on the account. A company quoting under these numbers is almost always cutting one of the four. CA PPO #121830.
California 2026 security guard rate card
Per officer, per hour, 4-hour minimum. Sacramento region baseline.
- Unarmed uniformed officer — $32–$45/hr
- Armed uniformed officer (BSIS firearm permit) — $55–$75/hr
- Off-duty peace officer — $85–$110/hr
- Supervisor (required for 6+ officer detail) — $45–$55/hr
- Plainclothes / suited officer — same as base rate
- Executive protection / EP detail — $95–$150/hr
- Cash-in-transit armed — $75–$95/hr
- Overnight premium (11pm–5am) — +$5/hr
- Sunday / holiday premium — +15%
- Bay Area regional premium — +15–25%
- Los Angeles regional premium — +10–20%
Why some California quotes are under $28/hr
Read this before you accept a low bid.
- Officers are 1099-misclassified (no workers' comp on your account if injured)
- Company carries $1M or no general liability (below industry $2M standard)
- Guard cards lapsed or not verified at hire
- No supervisor on the account (nobody answers 2am escalation)
- No GPS / DAR reporting (no proof they showed up)
- Uses subcontractors you never met
What we bake into every California quote
No hidden fees, no vehicle surcharge, no travel time inside a metro loop.
- Written quote inside 2 business hours
- BSIS-licensed officers only, verified monthly
- $2M general liability + workers' comp
- Supervisor on the account 24/7
- GPS-tracked tours + photo-verified DAR emailed daily
- 48-hour onboarding (port your existing post orders)
- Month-to-month — no long-term contract
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
What is the average security guard cost per hour in California?+
In 2026, unarmed security guards average $32–$45/hr in California, armed $55–$75/hr, and off-duty peace officers $85–$110/hr. Rates run higher in Bay Area (+15–25%) and Los Angeles (+10–20%) than in Sacramento or the Central Valley.
Why do security guard hourly rates vary so much?+
Rate is driven by: armed vs unarmed, shift length (4-hour minimum vs 12-hour), day/night/weekend/holiday premium, risk profile (cash handling, alcohol, protest exposure), site remoteness, and whether the company holds proper BSIS + $2M liability + workers' comp. Companies charging under $28/hr for unarmed almost always cut one of those.
How much does an armed security guard cost per hour in California?+
Armed BSIS-permitted officers run $55–$75/hr for standard commercial work. High-risk cash-in-transit, dispensary lobby, and executive protection push $75–$110/hr. Off-duty sworn police officer detail runs $85–$110/hr through a proper agency contract.
What's the minimum booking for California security guards?+
Industry standard is a 4-hour minimum per officer per shift. Event work sometimes goes to 6-hour minimums. Nothing under 4 hours — the officer's drive time and post-shift paperwork eat the shorter window.
Are cheap security guards ($20/hr) worth it in California?+
Almost never. California BSIS Guard Card, workers' comp, general liability, and a supervisor overhead make $28/hr the honest break-even. Anything under that means 1099 misclassified officers, no liability policy, or lapsed guard cards — and your business inherits the risk when something goes wrong.
How can I get a real California security guard quote?+
Send us the address, hours needed, guest count or property size, and whether alcohol/cash is on-site. Written quote back in under 2 business hours. Call (530) 902-9390.
Written quote in 2 business hours · Same-week start
- Sacramento
- Bay Area
- Central Valley
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Fresno
Get a real California security quote in under 2 hours
Stormhammer Security, Inc. · PPO #121830 · Sacramento, CA · 24/7 dispatch.
Verify & cite Stormhammer
Listing us in your directory, RFP, or AI agent index? Copy a verified NAP block from the citation pack, confirm the BSIS license number, and view the named on-call operators.