Although we protect lives and multimillion dollar properties every day, most private security officers go home to our nation's poorest neighborhoods.

Many security officers earn wages that keep them close to the federal poverty level. And most officers can't afford the health plans offered by their employers and are not paid for sick days or holidays like Labor Day. In fact, they often work two or three jobs just to get by.

More than 1 million private security officers - more than twice the number of police officers - are employed in the United States. Private security is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. More than $90 billion a year is spent on private security in America - more than twice the amount spent on public police forces ($40 billion).

Most security officers are paid poverty wages, have few benefits, and receive minimal training. The average pay for security officers is less than $23,000 a year.

Wages that Support a Family

More than 30,000 security officers who have formed a union with SEIU have won significant wage and benefit gains all across the country.

Seattle security officers are now guaranteed wage increases each year for 5 years.

Officers in Washington D.C. won 32% higher wages! The minimum hourly wage for union officers is now $13.25.

Los Angeles officers won an average of 25% wage increases over 5 years.