Security: say what exactly you’re looking for

Security guards and watchmen in Australia

Updated 4 November 2026

A security guard in Australia is usually priced at about A$40 to A$80 per hour, and an average quote for a whole job is around A$1,048 (approximate, according to sellers' websites, November 2026). The quickest way to see current rates for your site is to describe the shifts in a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Licences that differ by state

Security work is licensed state by state, so the rules and fees change at the state border. In Queensland an unarmed security officer licence is A$376.20 for one year and A$744.60 for three years, plus a fee of A$47.35 per person. In Western Australia an applicant must be at least 18, be a fit and proper person and hold a current first aid certificate. Ask any guard you hire for the licence class and its expiry date.

Training and what the course costs

A basic course takes about 10 days, and one listing shows A$1,100 for it, then A$160 a year or A$640 for a five-year licence. Some providers accept prior learning, which can bring the cost down to about A$900 for eligible candidates. Budget for the course and the licence together, not only for the wage.

Summer rosters and how shifts are priced

November is the end of spring, and the summer months from December to February are the time to agree a roster for the holiday period. Shifts are usually quoted per hour, per day or per job, so ask whether the quote includes the licence fee. Guards are needed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and a licence from one state does not automatically cover work in another.

What to put in your request

Say whether you need a security guard or a watchman, the hourly rate you can pay or expect, the workplace and its district, the shift schedule, the licence class you hold and your work experience. For a job offer, give the number of shifts per week. These details let sellers answer with a precise offer.

Describe the work in a request and BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for what is missing, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Australia, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, its terms and availability. Your contacts stay hidden until you decide with whom to exchange them. See the security guard and watchman pages.