Security guard salary in Quebec
In Quebec, the salary of a security guard employed by an agency is not left up to each employer: the Decree respecting security guards sets a minimum for all security agencies. Here is the hourly rate in 2026, what it adds up to per year, gross and net, the premiums that are added and how to check your pay.
Verified October 3, 2026.
What is the salary of a security guard in Quebec?
The Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1) sets the minimum hourly rate for all employees of security agencies, unionized or not. Since June 28, 2026, this minimum is $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 an hour in Class B. The Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (CPAS), the parity committee that enforces the Decree, is a non-profit organization.
The table in section 4.07 of the Decree sets out all the increases from 2023 to 2027:
| As of | Class A | Class B | Increase (Class A) |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2, 2023 | $19.34 | $19.59 | — |
| June 30, 2024 | $19.69 | $19.94 | +$0.35 (1.8%) |
| June 29, 2025 | $20.09 | $20.34 | +$0.40 (2.0%) |
| June 28, 2026 (in effect) | $20.60 | $20.85 | +$0.51 (2.5%) |
| July 4, 2027 | $21.10 | $21.35 | +$0.50 (2.4%) |
Class A: the guard who does security work (Class A on call, with no set schedule, has the same rate). Class B: the person who directs or supervises other guards. A Class B employee who directs other Class B employees receives $0.25 more, or $21.10 since June 28, 2026. Percentages calculated by us and rounded.
These rates are minimums: an employer can pay more, never less. The increase applies automatically, with nothing to request, even if your contract set a lower rate. The details are in our article on the minimum rate for security guards in 2026. By comparison, Quebec's general minimum wage has been $16.60 an hour since May 1, 2026, according to the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board). A Class A guard therefore earns $4.00 more an hour, about 24%.
And in practice? According to Québec.ca, the hourly wage of security guards (NOC 64410), on average from 2023 to 2025, ranged from $19.00 to $30.12, with a median of $22.00.
What is the salary of a beginner security guard?
The same as an experienced guard, at minimum. The Decree has no beginner step: $20.60 an hour from the first hour in Class A. Premiums are added as soon as the situation gives a right to them, even in the first week. A new hire who works nights therefore gets at least $21.60 for hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. To get started in the occupation, see our guide to becoming a security guard.
What is the net salary of a security guard in 2026?
Six deductions come off your gross pay before your deposit: QPP (6.30% above $3,500), QPIP (0.430%), employment insurance (1.30%), Quebec income tax, federal income tax after the Quebec abatement, and the Comité paritaire levy (0.30% of gross pay). For a single person with no other income or deductions, our estimate gives:
| Per year (2,080 h) | Day, $20.60/h | Night, $21.60/h |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $42,848 | $44,928 |
| Estimated net salary | about $33,900 | about $35,300 |
At the minimum rate, the guard keeps nearly 79% of gross pay, or about $650 net per 40-hour week. The full calculation, line by line, is in our article on the net salary of a security guard in 2026.
How much does a security guard earn per year?
Multiply the rate by 40 hours (the standard week under the Decree) and by 52 weeks, or 2,080 hours. The calculation excludes overtime. The profiles with premiums assume that the premium applies to all hours.
| Profile (Decree minimum) | Per hour | Annual gross |
|---|---|---|
| Class A, days, no premium | $20.60 | $42,848 |
| Class B | $20.85 | $43,368 |
| Class B who directs Class B employees | $21.10 | $43,888 |
| Class A, nights (P-11) | $21.60 | $44,928 |
| Class A, nights, first aid and customer service up to date | $22.70 | $47,216 |
| Class A in a hospital, nights, with crisis management, first aid and customer service | $24.70 | $51,376 |
| Class A armed, nights, first aid and customer service up to date | $25.20 | $52,416 |
Calculations: rate × 2,080 hours. Hours worked in 2026 before June 28 were paid at $20.09, so actual gross pay for the 2026 calendar year is slightly lower.
What are the premiums for security guards?
The Decree premiums are added to the hourly rate, and several can apply at the same time. Their amounts do not change in 2027.
| Premium | Situation | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| P-7 | The guard must use their own car as a shelter | $3.00 |
| P-6 | Work with a weapon | $2.50 |
| P-3 | Health or social services institution, with crisis management training (16 h, less than 2 years old) | $2.00 |
| P-8 | Judicial setting, with use of force training (20 h, less than 2 years old) | $2.00 |
| P-10 | ASP Construction attestation required | $1.00 |
| P-11 | Hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. | $1.00 |
| P-4 | First aid, CPR and AED (16 h, less than 3 years old) | $0.60 |
| P-2 | Radar or statements of offence | $0.55 |
| P-12 | Customer service (4 h, less than 2 years old) | $0.50 |
| P-1 | Member of the fire team, with special training | $0.35 |
| P-9 | No uniform provided | $0.15 |
| P-13 | Public health emergency declared for all of Quebec | $2.00 |
The most common trap: expired training makes you lose the premium the day after the deadline. Keep your attestations and give a copy to your employer. The full list and the exact conditions are in our article on the Decree premiums that many guards do not claim.
What is the night premium for a security guard?
Premium P-11 is $1.00 an hour, only for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A shift from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. therefore gives 4 hours of premium. The Decree provides no evening or weekend premium. Over a full year of nights, the premium adds up to $2,080 more in gross pay. Meals, safety and health: it is all in our article on the night security guard.
How is overtime paid?
The standard week is 40 hours. Beyond that, each hour is paid with a 50% increase. At the minimum rate, an overtime hour is therefore worth at least $30.90 ($20.60 × 1.5). The increase excludes hourly premiums, except P-4 (first aid) and P-12 (customer service). The other premiums are added without the increase.
Example: the night guard at the hospital in the table above receives (20.60 + 0.60 + 0.50) × 1.5 = $32.55, plus P-3 and P-11 without the increase ($3.00), or $35.55 per overtime hour.
Other useful rules: a call-back to work guarantees at least 4 paid hours, the meal is 30 paid minutes per 5-hour period, and spreading hours over more than one week requires the employees' agreement. Note also: the CNESST mentions 44 hours for watchmen, but for a guard employed by an agency it is the Decree's 40-hour threshold that counts. Read our article on hours of work and overtime. Time required before the shift, such as the handover of instructions, must also be paid. See our article on paid working time.
Which security guards are the best paid?
Under the Decree, they are the ones who combine a higher class, premiums tied to the setting and up-to-date training. At minimum, an armed night guard with first aid and customer service reaches $25.20 an hour, as much as a Class B supervisor directing Class B employees in a hospital at night. The gap with a day position with no premium is more than $4 an hour. Outside private security, the occupation of correctional services officer has a median of $38.17 an hour according to Québec.ca, but it requires a different path. Full comparison: the best-paid security guards.
What will a security guard's salary be in 2027?
On July 4, 2027, the minimum will rise to $21.10 in Class A ($43,888 per year at 40 hours) and to $21.35 in Class B ($44,408). From 2023 to 2027, the Class A rate will have risen by $1.76, about 9.1%. This is the last scheduled increase: the Decree remains in force until July 4, 2027, then renews from year to year unless a party objects in March. Any increase after that date will have to be published officially. See our article on security guard salaries in 2027.
Is the salary the same for a guard employed by a hospital or a store?
Not necessarily. The Decree covers security agencies and their employees. It does not cover a guard who does security work only for their own employer ("in-house" security), or employees of governments, municipalities and school service centres. A guard hired directly by a CISSS or a CIUSSS follows the conditions of the institution and its collective agreement, not the Decree. Other employees remain protected by the Act respecting labour standards and its general minimum wage. Before accepting a position, ask who your employer will be. Details in our article on the hospital security guard and in the security guards decree explained.
The group RRSP paid by the employer
The Decree provides for an employer contribution of $0.20 per paid hour to a group RRSP, according to the Comité paritaire, for an employee who has completed the trial period and filled out the enrolment form. It is not deducted from your wages. Over 2,080 hours, that comes to $416 per year invested in your name. According to the Comité paritaire, the contribution is paid in another way to an employee who has reached age 71, and from age 72 it is added to the hourly rate.
How do you check your pay and make a claim?
- On your pay slip, check the base rate for hours worked since June 28, 2026: at least $20.60 in Class A, $20.85 in Class B
- Check that each premium you are entitled to appears on top of the rate
- Check the number of hours beyond 40 in the week and their increase
- Write down your actual arrival and departure times and keep all your pay stubs
If an amount is missing, the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (514 493-9105) receives complaints confidentially. It can claim the difference from the employer on behalf of employees, plus an amount equal to 20% of that difference (section 22 of the Act respecting collective agreement decrees). Do not wait: under section 28 of the same Act, the claim is time-barred one year after each payment falls due. The paid leave set out in the Decree, often more generous than the law, is explained in our article on leave for security guards.
The occupation in numbers
- 32,000 people held this job in Quebec in 2024
- Hourly wage from $19.00 to $30.12, median of $22.00 (average from 2023 to 2025)
- "Good" job prospects for 2025-2029
- 64% of positions in business and building services, 7% in health care, 6% in public administration, 4% in retail trade
To find a position, see our security guard job listings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary of a security guard in Quebec?
In Quebec, the median hourly wage of security guards (NOC 64410) is $22.00, according to Québec.ca, for the period from 2023 to 2025. The published wages range from $19.00 to $30.12 an hour. Québec.ca publishes a median. This figure is not the Decree minimum rate, which is $20.60 an hour in Class A since June 28, 2026.
How much does a security guard earn per week?
At the Decree minimum, $824 gross for 40 hours in Class A ($20.60 × 40), or about $650 net, before premiums.
Can an employer pay less than the Decree rate?
No. The provisions of the Decree are public policy and an agreement to the contrary has no value. Only a more advantageous contract is allowed.
Is there a weekend premium?
No. The Decree provides neither an evening premium nor a weekend premium. Only hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. give a right to the night premium.
Is the training needed for a premium paid?
Training required by the employer or the client is at their expense. The exceptions: training that serves to qualify for a premium and training to obtain or renew the licence.
What is the hourly wage of a security guard in Quebec?
In Quebec, a guard employed by a security agency is paid at least $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B since June 28, 2026, under the Decree. Before that date, it was $20.09 and $20.34. The night premium adds $1.00 an hour between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
What is the salary increase in 2026?
On June 28, 2026, the Class A rate went from $20.09 to $20.60, or $0.51 more an hour (about 2.5%). The increase in detail.
What is the salary of a security guard at night?
The base rate plus $1.00 an hour for each hour between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., or at least $21.60 an hour in Class A. Night security guard.
Is the meal paid? (the "meal allowance")
In Quebec, the Decree does not mention a meal allowance. Instead, it provides for 30 paid minutes for a meal for each 5-hour period of work, even if the guard cannot leave the post.
What is the minimum length of a paid shift?
A guard who reports to work at the employer's request and works less than 4 hours, or not at all, is entitled to at least 4 hours of wages.
How many hours of rest does a security guard get?
At least 32 consecutive hours of rest each week, under the Act respecting labour standards. The guard can also refuse overtime beyond certain thresholds. Hours of work and the right to refuse.
What are a security guard's rights at work?
Those in the Decree (wages, premiums, leave, vacation, notice) and those in the Act respecting labour standards and from the CNESST. See our guides on leave, harassment, dismissal and powers of arrest.
What is the minimum wage for a security guard in Quebec?
In Quebec, section 4.07 of the Decree respecting security guards sets the minimum wage of an agency guard at $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B since June 28, 2026. A Class A guard earns $4.00 an hour more than the general minimum wage, which has been $16.60 since May 1, 2026 according to the CNESST. The details are in the minimum rate for security guards in 2026.
What is a security guard's salary in 2026?
In 2026, in Quebec, a Class A agency guard paid at the Decree minimum earns $42,848 gross a year at 40 hours a week, or about $33,900 net by our estimate for a single person with no other income or deduction. Before June 28, 2026, the minimum rate was $20.09 an hour. The deductions are calculated in a security guard's net pay in 2026.
Sources
- LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01, 3.01 to 3.12, 4.07 and 9.01
- LégisQuébec: Act respecting collective agreement decrees, sections 11, 12, 13, 22 and 28
- Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: salariés (RRSP, complaints)
- CNESST: salaire minimum
- Québec.ca: occupation NOC 64410, security guards (consulted October 3, 2026)