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How to hire an armed guard

Armed guard hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring armed guards in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an armed guard is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per armed guard on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 239,822 armed guards in the US and 74,257 job openings.
  • Los Angeles, CA, has the highest demand for armed guards, with 7 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of armed guards.

How to hire an armed guard, step by step

To hire an armed guard, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a armed guard:

Here's a step-by-step armed guard hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an armed guard job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new armed guard
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your armed guard job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an armed guard for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect armed guard also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of armed guards and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Armed GuardDescriptionHourly rate
    Armed GuardSecurity guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.$14-28
    Petty OfficerA petty officer is a non-commissioned navy officer who is responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of junior sailors and making sure that they have a productive day. Petty officers with more experience are expected to provide training in basic skills to their junior petty officers... Show more$11-29
    SecurityA Security's main responsibility is to keep people or an establishment safe. This responsibility is carried out by constantly patrolling a designated area and monitoring the activity within the premises... Show more$11-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patrol
    • Medical Emergencies
    • National Security
    • Emergency Situations
    • Law Enforcement
    • Traffic Control
    • Security Services
    • CPR
    • ATM
    • Surveillance Equipment
    • Incident Reports
    • CCTV
    • Property Damage
    • Physical Security
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Check for safety violations such as proper PPE and H2S monitors.
    • Certify cpr and a first aid, enforce rest area rules, conduct incident reports and crime.
    • Allow customers and deliveries in and out of Menards' yard.
    • Receive, inventory, and issuing of ammunition to bases and unit throughout the country.
    • Provide foot patrols, and CCTV monitoring of medical facilities, as well as lock up and access control.
    • Verify that everyone has the required PPE, such as hard hat, safety glasses, and steel toe boots.
    More armed guard duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your armed guard job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An armed guard can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, armed guards' average salary in mississippi is 55% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level armed guards 47% less than senior-level armed guards.
    • Certifications. An armed guard with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an armed guard's salary.

    Average armed guard salary

    $43,189yearly

    $20.76 hourly rate

    Entry-level armed guard salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 16, 2026

    Average armed guard salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Alaska$66,871$32
    2New York$55,148$27
    3Washington$51,446$25
    4California$47,700$23
    5Nevada$46,610$22
    6Oregon$46,294$22
    7Minnesota$46,267$22
    8Massachusetts$45,700$22
    9Maryland$44,023$21
    10Colorado$43,451$21
    11Arizona$42,602$20
    12Utah$42,361$20
    13Virginia$42,337$20
    14Michigan$41,150$20
    15Vermont$41,120$20
    16Wisconsin$40,775$20
    17Kansas$40,430$19
    18Pennsylvania$39,838$19
    19Illinois$39,567$19
    20New Mexico$39,369$19

    Average armed guard salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Inter-Con Security Systems$52,082$25.04305
    2Medical Billing$45,049$21.66
    3Loomis Group$41,771$20.08118
    4ACTS-Aviation Security$39,020$18.765
    5Rochester Armored Car$39,018$18.76
    6paragon Co.$39,018$18.76
    7Brink's$39,009$18.75199
    8Hire Velocity$38,986$18.74
    9Temco, Inc.$38,980$18.74
    10Command Security$38,331$18.4337
    11Andy Frain Services$38,215$18.37204
    12Allied Universal$38,170$18.35
    13Champion National Security$37,341$17.95
  4. Writing an armed guard job description

    A good armed guard job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an armed guard job description:

    Armed guard job description example

    • We set you up for success! Company provides its employees with training programs and uniforms.
    • Growing Company: Company growth = career growth! We have full-time and part-time positions available.
    • Other Work: This is also a great position where the candidate can also work Special Events in the area for more hours each week.
    • Paychecks: Our regular payroll schedule is weekly - so you'll have money every week! We also have the flexibility to get you paid daily!
    • Colorado Sick Pay Leave: Eligible up to 48 hours that are accrued in a calendar year.
    • Other Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, and life insurances as well as Paid Time Off.
    • Referral Program: Refer someone you know and get $50.00!

    PAY RATE

    $15.00 - $26.00 per hour (depending on court location)

    THE LOCATION

    In general, Colorado is noted for its lustrous landscape of mountains, forests, tall plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers and desert lands. Did you know that the largest flat-top mountain in the world is located in Colorado? It is known as Grand Mesa. Colorado houses the largest number of wildlife reserves, which is over 200 reserves! Other interesting facts include that the largest and most revered rodeo in the world takes place in Colorado. It is known as the “Western Stock Show”.

    THE POSITION

    We are looking for Armed Court Guards to join our team to work at courthouses throughout Colorado. This position will patrol the interior and exterior of facilities and monitor a closed-circuit television feed to prevent unauthorized access and limit other incidents. Armed Court Guards must legally possess a firearm (we will train), and additional certifications are highly valued, such as a baton permit, pepper spray permit, and CPR certification. You must be able to collaborate with the other members of our team to limit any potential risks. We expect each infraction to be thoroughly investigated and properly documented. Our ideal candidate has military, law enforcement, or security experience. Courthouse locations in Colorado include: Fruita, Grand Junction, Rifle, Eagle, Aspen, and Glenwood Springs.

    Qualification Requirements:

    • Provide credible references and I-9 Employment Eligibility Documentation (legal eligibility to work in the U.S.).
    • Ability to perform job tasks in an extremely professional manner in a customer service driven industry.
    • Reading, writing and oral proficiency in the English language.
    • Ability to pass a background check and have a clean Motor Vehicle Record.
    • Ability to stand and walk for several hours per shift.
    • Reliable transportation and proximity to site(s).
    • Basic computer skills.
    • Positive attitude.
    • Punctuality, never late.
    • Must own a smartphone for scheduling and clocking in / out.
    • Experience in CPR, first aid, firefighting and crowd control is preferred, but not required.
    • Previous security or law enforcement experience preferred, but not required.

    THE COMPANY

    Citadel Security USA is a veteran owned security company and one of the most trusted security providers in the industry. Established in 2007, Citadel Security became an industry leader in managing complex, multi-site security projects for our clients. Our strategic partnership approach utilizes a security threat matrix and integrates modern security techniques to minimize the overall risk.

    Our company is currently hiring for full-time and part-time, security & public safety professionals who are ready to take their training and experience to a whole new level. Increase your customer service skills while serving your community.

    At Citadel Security we like to develop our Security, Safety, and Loss Prevention professionals to become part of our professional brand. We strive to provide our clients with a customer service approach toward security and public safety. Unlike many large security brands our management has established our company as a blue-collar employee-oriented company!


    Citadel Security USA is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find armed guards for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your armed guard job on Zippia to find and recruit armed guard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit armed guards, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new armed guard

    Once you've found the armed guard candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an armed guard?

There are different types of costs for hiring armed guards. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new armed guard employee.

You can expect to pay around $43,189 per year for an armed guard, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for armed guards in the US typically range between $14 and $28 an hour.

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