Living Wages
Although they protect lives and multimillion dollar properties every day, most private security officers go home to our nation’s poorest neighborhoods.
The majority of private security officers in major cities are African American. They often work two or three jobs just to get by. 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.
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 10 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 only $20,000 a year.
Property Services Issues
Affordable Health Care
Wealthy building owners have access to state-of-the-art health care while officers who guard their buildings can’t afford doctors' visits.
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