Licensed security guards in Melbourne typically cost between about $45 and $80 an hour in 2026 for an unarmed guard, before loadings. Nights, weekends and public holidays cost more, and a minimum shift usually applies. Your exact rate depends on the guard type and your site's risk.
Updated June 2026 by the SCM Security team
Trusted, licensed and accredited to protect Melbourne
Licensed security guards in Melbourne typically cost between about $45 and $65 an hour in 2026 for an unarmed weekday guard, before loadings. Crowd controllers and specialist roles run higher. Nights, weekends and public holidays add penalty rates, and a minimum shift usually applies. Hire professional security guards from a licensed Victorian team.
That's the short answer. The longer one's that no two jobs price the same, because a guard's rate moves with the licence class, the time of day, the length of the booking and how risky the site is. The tables below give you real 2026 Melbourne ranges so you can sense-check any quote you're handed, then we'll show you how the final number actually gets built.
Figures on this page are 2026 estimates only. Get a quote for exact pricing.
Here are indicative 2026 Melbourne hourly rates by guard type. Weekday day rates are the baseline; nights, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays carry penalty loadings on top.
Here's your reference point. If a quote comes in well under the weekday range, ask what licensing and insurance you're actually getting. If it's well over, ask what the premium buys. The midpoints below give you a feel for where each guard type sits before loadings.
| Guard type | Weekday | Night | Saturday | Sunday / public hol | Min shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unarmed static guard | $45 to $65 | + loading | + loading | + higher loading | ~4 hrs |
| Mobile patrol | from $40 / visit | + after-hours | + loading | + higher loading | per route |
| Crowd controller | $55 to $80 | + loading | + loading | + higher loading | ~4 hrs |
| Corporate / concierge | $50 to $70 | + loading | + loading | + higher loading | ~4 hrs |
Estimate only, 2026 figures. GST and a minimum shift may apply. Get a quote for your site.
A security guard's price depends on the guard type and licence class, armed versus unarmed, the shift time and length, your site's risk level, how many guards you need, and the contract length. Longer or ongoing bookings usually lower the hourly rate per guard.
It helps to know which levers move the number, because some of them are yours to pull. A longer or ongoing contract almost always brings the per-hour rate down. Booking daytime hours avoids penalty loadings. And being clear about your real risk means you're not paying for armed cover when an unarmed guard would do the job.
A crowd controller or armed role costs more than a static guard.
Nights, weekends and short shifts all push the rate up.
Higher-risk sites need more guards or more experience.
Crowd size and venue layout set how many you need.
Ongoing bookings usually lower the per-hour rate.
Here's how the hourly rates add up across a few common Melbourne jobs. These are worked examples to give you a feel for total cost, not fixed quotes.
| Scenario | Guards | Hours | Indicative total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-off event night | 2 crowd controllers | 5 hrs | $650 to $900 | Sat night, min shift applies |
| Ongoing retail cover | 1 guard, busy days | 8 hrs x 2 days | $750 to $1,050 / wk | Lower rate on a contract |
| Construction after-hours patrol | 1 patrol vehicle | nightly route | from $40 / visit | Per visit, several sites |
| Corporate reception | 1 concierge guard | 9 hrs weekday | $470 to $640 / day | Ongoing daily roster |
Estimate only, actual quotes vary by site, dates and risk. Get a quote for exact pricing.
Yes. Security guards cost more at night, on weekends and on public holidays because penalty rates apply, and a minimum shift length usually applies too. Watch for callout fees, travel charges and equipment costs as well, so always check what's included before you book.
The headline hourly rate is rarely the whole story, so it pays to ask what sits on top. A reputable company spells these out in the quote rather than springing them on the invoice. Here's what to look for.
Nights, weekends and public holidays cost more per hour.
Usually around four hours, even for a short job.
Some one-off or alarm-response jobs carry a callout charge.
Distant or regional sites may add a travel component.
Radios, vehicles or special gear can add to the cost.
Yes. Most security work has a minimum shift, commonly around four hours, because guards need travel and setup time. A reputable company confirms the minimum in your written quote before you book, so there's no surprise on the invoice.
Your site, dates, hours and risk level.
We work out the right guard type and numbers.
Hourly rate, loadings and minimum shift, spelled out.
Approve it and licensed guards are on site fast.
Hiring a licensed security guard in Melbourne usually costs about $45 to $80 an hour in 2026, depending on the guard type, before night, weekend and public-holiday loadings. A minimum shift of around four hours applies. Get a quote for an exact figure for your site.
Across Australia, licensed security guards generally cost between about $40 and $80 an hour in 2026, varying by state, guard type and time of day. Melbourne sits within that range. Penalty rates apply at night and on weekends, and a minimum shift usually applies.
In Victoria, an unarmed security guard usually costs about $45 to $65 an hour on a weekday in 2026, with crowd controllers and specialist roles higher. Nights, weekends and public holidays carry penalty loadings on top of the base rate.
Yes. Penalty rates apply at night, on weekends and on public holidays, so the hourly cost rises. A minimum shift usually applies too, and some jobs add callout, travel or equipment charges. Always check what's included in the quote before you book.
Yes. Most security work has a minimum shift, commonly around four hours, because guards need travel and setup time. We confirm the minimum in your written quote before you book, so you know exactly what you're paying for upfront.
Yes, usually. One patrol team covers several sites a night, so you spread the cost rather than paying a guard to hold one post for a full shift. For after-hours and multi-site risk, patrols give you far more coverage per dollar spent.
Yes. We cover one-off events, single days and short-term bookings with no lock-in, subject to the minimum shift. Tell us the date and the site, and we'll quote the right number of licensed guards just for that job.
Prices vary with licensing, insurance, guard experience and overheads. A very cheap quote can mean unlicensed or uninsured guards, which is a real risk. Always check the company holds a Private Security Business Licence and carries public liability insurance before you book.
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