Security Guards and Patrol Services NAICS 561612

May 28, 2026 - AI and Technology is Reshaping the Security Guard Industry

• AI is rapidly reshaping the security guard industry, with companies increasingly deploying AI-powered video analytics, patrol robots, drones, and predictive monitoring systems to improve efficiency and reduce costs, according to a 2026 Novagems report. The report says AI is not replacing guards outright but shifting their role toward higher-level response and decision-making tasks while automation handles routine surveillance and patrols. The industry is moving toward hybrid security models that combine human guards with real-time analytics, remote monitoring, and autonomous technologies. Novagems notes that labor shortages, rising client expectations and growing demand for faster threat detection are accelerating adoption. The report also highlights growing use of AI-driven dispatch systems and wearable technology, while warning that firms slow to adopt emerging tools risk falling behind competitors in a technology-focused market.
• Average hourly wages for the security guard industry rose 3.4% in March 2026 to $24.38 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, continuing a trajectory of substantial growth. Pay scales have jumped significantly in recent years, from $17 in 2021 to $21 by 2024, a 23% bump over a three year span. The national median annual wage for security guards stood at $38,370 ($18.46/hour) as of 2024, with specialized, armed, or supervisory roles commanding even higher pay. Several forces are driving this growth: high annual turnover generating over 162,000 job openings per year, rising demand from healthcare and technology sectors, and broader wage inflation affecting more than half of security firms in North America. Employers in high cost-of-living markets face mounting pressure to offer competitive compensation just to keep positions filled.

• 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.