In many jurisdictions, particularly jurisdictions where the carrying of firearms is extremely regulated, additional licensing may be required in order to become an armed security guard. Courses centering on weapons handling, weapons safety and use of force training will generally be required before one can apply to security guard positions that require the potential use of a firearm. Many security guard positions don’t require firearms, but for some, such as security guards protecting armored trucks or banks, it is a necessity.
Armed security jobs that require firearms often pay more, but the pay difference may not always be significant. Be sure to do your research and ask yourself whether the additional responsibility and potential danger of armed security work is worth the extra pay. In some cases, armed security guard training will be worth it, in other cases, it may not be. However, if you plan to pursue a long term career as a security professional, you will definitely need to seek armed security guard training at some point in order to advance your career.
Security Guard Salary
So what can your security guard training earn you in terms of salary? Salaries in the security industry vary greatly and will depend significantly on your jurisdiction as well as the presence or lack thereof of a union. Entry level security guards at malls, apartment buildings, or other private businesses will likely earn close to minimum wage. Bouncers, low level body guards, and armed truck drivers may earn anywhere from $15-25 an hour.
The higher salaries in the security guard industry are for those providing high-end consultancy services. Generally, these also require a higher level of skill, and may also require an ex-military or ex-law enforcement officer background. Whether it involves putting highly specialized ex-military bodyguards to protect personnel in war zones or gaining high-volume security training contracts for governments and large corporations, those with experience and an entrepreneurial mindset can make a very good career or business in the security or security training industries.
Security Guard Training NYC
Security guard training courses and curriculums will differ from state to state, but NYC is a good illustration of the type of training and study that takes to get a security license in New York State and become a licensed security guard. The requirements to be an entry-level unarmed security guard in New York City are fairly low. In addition to passing basic eligibility requirements which include being at least 18 years of age, being a citizen or resident of the United States, passing an FBI criminal background check, and entering your fingerprint into a database, you will also need to take an 8 hour security guard training course prior to receiving security guard assignment.
After completion of your security guard training courses, you will receive a Security Guard Registration Card from the Department of State which will qualify you to perform basic security guard duties. Your security guard training course must be completed at an approved security guard school in New York. Within your first 90 days on the job, all new security guards must complete an additional 16 hours of on the job security guard training requirements.