Every April, the National Living Wage goes up. This year it rose to £12.71 per hour — a 45% increase from where it was in 2020. That means a supermarket worker, a barista, and a warehouse operative all now earn at least £12.71 for doing jobs that require no licence, no training, and no night shifts.
Security work requires all three. So what happens when the wage floor rises, and the gap between unskilled work and licensed security work gets smaller?
Employers have to raise pay to keep you. And the data shows they are.
The Wage Floor Is Doing the Heavy Lifting
Here’s how fast the National Living Wage has climbed:
| Year | National Living Wage (21+) |
|---|---|
| April 2020 | £8.72 |
| April 2021 | £8.91 |
| April 2022 | £9.50 |
| April 2023 | £10.42 |
| April 2024 | £11.44 |
| April 2025 | £12.21 |
| April 2026 | £12.71 |
Source: GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage rates
Every time that number goes up, security companies face a simple choice: raise pay or lose staff to easier jobs. A door supervisor working weekends until 3 am isn’t going to stick around for £13 an hour when a daytime retail job pays £12.71 with none of the risk.
That pressure is already showing. According to Indeed (March 2026), the average security guard in the UK now earns £13.51 per hour. Door supervisors average £14.16 per hour. Those figures have been pushed upward precisely because the floor beneath them keeps rising.
What Security Workers Are Actually Earning Right Now
Pay varies by role and location. Here’s a snapshot of where things stand:
| Role | Average Pay | Based On |
|---|---|---|
| Security guard | £13.51/hr | 1,500 salaries (Indeed) |
| Door supervisor | £14.16/hr | 3,500 salaries (Indeed) |
| CCTV operator | ~£24,420/yr | 303 salaries (Indeed) |
| Close protection | ~£34,600/yr | 466 salaries (Indeed) |
And location makes a difference too. Security guards in London average £14.59 an hour. In Manchester, it’s £14.01. Even in lower-paying areas like Warrington (£12.85) and Preston (£13.03), rates are being pulled up because employers know they can’t sit at or near the minimum and expect to fill shifts.
For a fuller breakdown of what different security roles pay across the UK, check out our guide to security salaries in the UK. And if you’re weighing up which direction to take your career, our comparison of frontline vs non-frontline security roles is worth a read.
Why the Market Is Moving in Your Favour
The rising wage floor is only one part of the picture. Three other things are happening at the same time, and they’re all pushing security pay in the same direction:
Demand Is Growing
Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025) will require thousands of venues across the UK to have proper security measures in place by 2027. Retail crime is surging, with major chains expanding their in-store security teams. Event security demand spikes every summer. All of that means more jobs competing for the same pool of licensed workers.
Fewer People Are Entering the Industry
Industry analysis of SIA licensing figures suggests first-time applications dropped 16% in a single year — from 94,332 to 79,455. Fewer new entrants at the exact moment demand is increasing gives existing licence holders more bargaining power.
Qualifications Are Getting Stricter
The SIA is running its biggest qualification review in years, with new standards expected by spring 2027. Higher standards mean higher-skilled workers, and higher-skilled workers command higher pay.
More demand, fewer workers, tougher standards. That’s the kind of market where wages go up.
How to Make Sure Your Pay Keeps Up
The NLW rising is good news, but it helps the most if you’re actively positioning yourself above the floor — not sitting just above it. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Hold More Than One Licence Type
A door supervisor who also holds a CCTV licence or has completed close protection training is more versatile, more employable, and more expensive to replace. That translates directly to higher pay. Not sure which roles are out there? Our rundown of the top 10 security jobs you can get with an SIA licence breaks it all down.
Build Specialist Knowledge
Counter-terrorism awareness is becoming increasingly valuable as Martyn’s Law drives demand for security professionals who understand threat assessment and public protection. These aren’t generic skills — they’re the kind that move you into higher-paying roles.
Stay Current
Make sure your SIA licence and any refresher training are up to date. Employers are paying premiums for fully compliant, ready-to-deploy staff — especially during peak periods.
The security workers who earn the most aren’t the ones waiting for the minimum wage to push their pay up. They’re the ones who’ve already moved beyond it. Book your SIA training today!
