The Highest-Paid Security Guards in Quebec
Class B, premiums that add up, nights, overtime: the situations that pay the most under the Decree, with examples of hourly rates.
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Who is the highest-paid security guard in Quebec? In private security guarding, the answer can be read in the Decree respecting security guards. The minimum hourly rate is the same for all guards in the same class, but the premiums, which add up, can raise pay by several dollars an hour. Here are the situations that pay the most under the Decree, examples of combined rates and a few better-paid neighbouring occupations.
What is a security guard's pay in Quebec?
The Decree sets a minimum hourly rate based on the guard's class. Since June 28, 2026, it is $20.60 for Class A and $20.85 for Class B. An increase is already scheduled for July 4, 2027: $21.10 for Class A and $21.35 for Class B.
| Class | Since June 28, 2026 | As of July 4, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Class A (guard) | $20.60 | $21.10 |
| Class B (directs or supervises other guards) | $20.85 | $21.35 |
| Class B who directs Class B employees | $21.10 | $21.60 |
These are minimums. An agency can pay more. The details of the rates and their schedule are on our security guard salary and Decree page, and the article the security guards' decree explained presents how the rules work in general.
Who are the highest-paid security guards?
Under the Decree, the highest paid are guards who combine three things: a higher class, premiums tied to the work setting and up-to-date training. Under the Decree, more than one premium can apply at a time.
Supervisors (Class B)
A Class B employee is one who directs or supervises one or more guards. This employee receives $0.25 more an hour than Class A. When they direct or supervise Class B employees themselves, they receive another $0.25 an hour more than the Class B rate. The gap remains modest. It is mostly the premiums that make the difference.
The premiums that pay the most
Here are the Decree's hourly premiums, from highest to lowest, with their main condition. The amounts have been the same since 2023 and stay the same until 2027.
| Premium | Situation | Amount per hour |
|---|---|---|
| P-7 | The guard needs a shelter and must use their automobile for that purpose | $3.00 |
| P-6 | Work with a firearm | $2.50 |
| P-3 | Health or social services institution, with crisis management training of at least 16 hours taken in the last 2 years (also paid elsewhere if the client requires this training) | $2.00 |
| P-8 | Judicial or parajudicial sector (courthouses, courts, supervision of detainees, witnesses or jurors), with use of force training of at least 20 hours taken in the last 2 years | $2.00 |
| P-10 | The client or the employer requires the ASP Construction attestation | $1.00 |
| P-11 | Hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. | $1.00 |
| P-4 | First aid, CPR and AED, training of at least 16 hours taken in the last 3 years | $0.60 |
| P-2 | Use of a radar or authorization to issue statements of offence (parking or other) | $0.55 |
| P-12 | Customer service training of at least 4 hours taken in the last 2 years | $0.50 |
| P-1 | Special firefighting training and member of the fire team at the request of the client or the employer | $0.35 |
| P-9 | No uniform supplied to the guard | $0.15 |
The Decree also provides a P-13 premium ($2.00 an hour since June 29, 2025), but it applies only when the government has declared a public health emergency throughout Quebec. It is therefore excluded from the examples below.
For the details of each premium and the trap of expired training, see our article on the premiums in the security guards' decree. The hospital setting, one of the best paying, is described in our article on hospital security guards.
How much can a guard earn by combining premiums?
The following table adds the minimum rate in effect since June 28, 2026 and the premiums that apply to each profile. These are minimums set out in the Decree, not actual observed wages.
| Profile | Calculation | Minimum rate per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Class A guard, days, no premium | $20.60 | $20.60 |
| Night guard, first aid and customer service up to date | 20.60 + 1.00 + 0.60 + 0.50 | $22.70 |
| Courthouse guard, days, first aid and customer service up to date | 20.60 + 2.00 + 0.60 + 0.50 | $23.70 |
| Guard posted in their car (shelter), nights | 20.60 + 3.00 + 1.00 | $24.60 |
| Hospital guard, nights, first aid and customer service up to date | 20.60 + 2.00 + 1.00 + 0.60 + 0.50 | $24.70 |
| Armed guard, nights, first aid and customer service up to date | 20.60 + 2.50 + 1.00 + 0.60 + 0.50 | $25.20 |
| Class B supervisor directing Class B employees, hospital, nights, first aid and customer service up to date | 21.10 + 2.00 + 1.00 + 0.60 + 0.50 | $25.20 |
In practice, the gap between a day post with no premium and a well-qualified night post is more than $4 an hour. Over a regular 40-hour week, $4.60 in premiums amounts to $184 more.
What is the night premium for a security guard?
The night premium (P-11) is $1.00 an hour. It applies to hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and only to those. On a shift from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., four hours give entitlement to it. It is added to the other premiums. However, the Decree provides no evening or weekend premium.
Is overtime paid at 150%?
Yes, but with a nuance. For calculation purposes, the regular workweek is 40 hours. Beyond that, the wage actually paid is increased by 50%. Hourly premiums are excluded from this increase, except the P-4 (first aid) and P-12 (customer service) premiums, which are included in the calculation.
Example, at the Decree minimum: the hospital night guard in the table above receives, for one hour of overtime, (20.60 + 0.60 + 0.50) × 1.5 = $32.55, plus the P-3 and P-11 premiums without the increase ($3.00), for a total of $35.55 an hour.
Which occupations close to security pay better?
Some neighbouring jobs fall outside the Decree and follow their own pay scales. The best documented is the correctional services officer, who supervises incarcerated persons in detention facilities. According to Québec.ca, the hourly wage for this occupation, calculated as an average from 2023 to 2025, ranges from $27.93 at the minimum to $48.08 at the maximum, with a median of $38.17.
This occupation requires a different path from the BSP security guard licence. For private security, the starting point remains our guide to becoming a security guard in Quebec.
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Frequently asked questions
Can an agency pay less than the Decree?
No. The Decree's hourly rate and premiums are minimums. The employer must pay at least these amounts. It can pay more.
Do the premiums really add up?
Yes. The Decree states that more than one premium can be applicable at a time. An armed guard who works at night receives both the P-6 premium ($2.50) and the P-11 premium ($1.00).
Who pays for the training that gives entitlement to a premium?
As a general rule, training required by the employer or the client is at their expense. However, the Decree makes an exception for training that allows the guard to qualify for a premium or to obtain or renew their licence. That training is not necessarily paid for by the employer.
What is the best-paying post under the Decree?
No post is designated as such. The highest premium is the one for the car used as a shelter ($3.00), followed by armed work ($2.50). It is the combinations of premiums, night work and up-to-date training that give the best rates.
Which security job pays the most?
In Quebec, in private security guarding, the highest rate among the profiles calculated in this article is $25.20 an hour at the Decree minimum. Two profiles reach it, with up-to-date first aid and customer service training: the armed night guard and the Class B supervisor who directs Class B employees in a hospital at night. The correctional services officer, a neighbouring job that falls outside the Decree, has a median hourly wage of $38.17 according to Québec.ca, as an average from 2023 to 2025. This occupation requires a different path from the BSP security guard licence.
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