Security Guards and Patrol Services NAICS 561612

Jan 6, 2026 - Corporate Executive Security Demand Increases

• A year after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York, corporate security for top executives has intensified and become more sophisticated, The Wall Street Journal reports. Boards are demanding tighter protection amid rising anti-corporate resentment and political and workplace violence. Companies have moved beyond hiring bodyguards to bringing security functions in-house, monitoring threats continuously, coordinating with law enforcement, and briefing executives’ families on personal safety and social media risks. Spending has risen sharply: just over one-third of S&P 500 companies disclosed off-the-job executive security costs in 2024, up from about one-quarter previously, with the median benefit rising to roughly $112,000 from $61,000 in 2020, according to corporate filings. Some firms spend far more, including Amazon’s $1.1 million for CEO Andy Jassy and Meta’s more than $24 million for Mark Zuckerberg. Security advisers warn threats remain high and are evolving faster than corporate practices.
• A recent Trackforce study highlights that turnover is the biggest challenge for security guard companies, with over 40% of providers citing staff churn as their top issue, surpassing concerns about profit margins, compliance, and insurance. Contributing factors include rising hourly wages (61%), labor shortages (52%), and regulatory burdens (40%). Wages vary widely, with unarmed guards earning $13 to $25+ per hour and armed guards $18 to $30+, depending on the firm. To improve retention, companies are using strategies such as internal career paths (60%), stay and referral bonuses (56%), and certification or training programs (52%), though nearly a quarter of firms still lack a formal retention plan. Security teams are also increasingly tasked with responsibilities beyond traditional guarding, including health and safety, facilities management, business continuity, IT security, and travel risk management.

• The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has spotlighted rising demand and soaring costs in the private security industry, especially for guards and executive protection teams. High-profile incidents, including the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO and a July 2025 mass shooting in a New York City office building, have driven Fortune 500 companies and public figures to reassess security needs. Executive protection is evolving into specialized operations. Industry demand is increasing, but so are the costs required to provide personal protection in a heightened threat environment. Standard armed protection runs $125 to $200 per hour, while elite agents can command $250 per hour. A two-person team may cost $3,000 to $5,000 per day, while larger 10-person teams can reach $25,000 to $30,000 daily. Full coverage often requires rotating teams of 24 to 36 guards.
• Fire watch guards, trained professionals who monitor properties for signs of fire, are an important but little known job within the security industry. The fire watch guards are mostly used when security and fire systems malfunction and leave a building unprotected. They are also used as supplemental to an electronic fire detection system, such as at construction sites that require round-the-clock monitoring to comply with legal safety requirements. In addition to construction, fire watch guards also patrol vacant buildings, private businesses, warehouses, education institutions, and government locations. Per the National Fire Protection Association, local fire departments responded to about 1.39 million fires in 2023 (the last year data is available) at a cost of $23 billion in property damage.