NXTFusion OS™ / Solutions
Security Guard Cost Calculator: Guards vs NXTGuard
How much does a security guard cost per hour, and what does 24/7 coverage add up to over a year? Use this security guard cost calculator to estimate your current guard spend and compare it with NXTGuard robotic security towers running on NXTFusion OS. Change any number to match your site.
Security guard cost calculator
Your estimate
Estimates only, based on NXTGuard starting prices and the inputs above. Real quotes vary by site, term, coverage and options. Guard wage default is a U.S. average from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
NXTFusion OS can cut your staffing costs by up to 50%.
What drives security guard costs
The hourly wage is only the start. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average wage for security guards at about $20 an hour, and pay is higher in many metro areas and for armed or specialized posts. Employers then pay payroll taxes, insurance and benefits on top of that wage. Across private industry, BLS reports that benefits make up about 30% of total compensation costs. If you hire through a guard agency, the bill rate also includes the agency’s overhead and margin.
Coverage hours matter even more than the rate. One post covered around the clock is 168 hours a week, or about 728 hours a month. Since one person can’t work all of those hours, a single 24/7 post takes several guards on rotating shifts, plus cover for vacations, sick days and turnover. Overtime, training, uniforms, supervision and replacing guards who leave all add to the real cost of each post.
How the calculator works
Enter how many posts you cover, the hours per day and days per week, and the hourly rate you pay. Add the extra employer cost on top of wages, or enter your full agency bill rate and set that field to 0%. Then choose an NXTGuard unit and the share of guard hours it will cover. The calculator compares what you spend on guards today with a mix of NXTGuard units, the NXTFusion OS console, and the guard hours you keep. The results are estimates based on NXTGuard starting prices. Your actual quote depends on your site, contract term and options.
Security robot cost vs security guards
NXTGuard units are rented by the month at a fixed price. LightOps starts at $1,595 a month, SafeOps at $2,650 a month and LSA at $3,950 a month, plus the NXTFusion OS console from $400 a month. A guard post is paid by the hour, so its cost grows with every hour of coverage. A tower costs the same whether it watches a lot for 8 hours or 24. That’s why the gap is widest on nights, weekends and large open areas, where guard hours pile up.
Robots don’t replace people outright. NXTGuard watches, detects and deters, and NXTFusion OS sends real events to your team so guards spend their time responding instead of standing watch. NXTFusion OS can cut your staffing costs by up to 50%. Most sites keep guards for patrols, access control and customer contact, and use towers to cover the perimeter, parking areas and overnight hours.
Where NXTGuard fits
• Stadiums and venues. Parking lots, perimeters and gates get busy on event days and sit empty in between. Towers cover the quiet days without a full guard roster. Venue & event security
• Parking. Large surface lots and garages need coverage around the clock. Visible towers deter break-ins and flag problems for your staff. Parking security
• Data centers. Perimeters, fence lines and construction sites need constant watch and a record of what happened. Data center security · Data center construction security
• Casinos. Guest parking and garages are open 24/7, and guests expect to feel safe walking to their cars. Casino parking security
• Ports and airports. Yards, fence lines and remote gates stretch across huge areas that are expensive to cover on foot. Airport & port security
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard cost per hour?
BLS puts the U.S. average wage for security guards at about $20.42 an hour. The total cost to an employer is higher once payroll taxes, benefits and, for contract guards, agency markup are added. Rates vary by city and by armed or unarmed posts.
How much does 24/7 security guard coverage cost per month?
One post covered 24/7 is about 728 hours a month. At the average wage plus 30% employer costs, that’s roughly $19,300 a month for one post before overtime or agency margin. Use the calculator with your own rate for a better estimate.
How much does a security robot or security tower cost?
NXTGuard starts at $1,595 a month for LightOps, $2,650 a month for SafeOps and $3,950 a month for LSA, plus the NXTFusion OS console from $400 a month. These are starting prices, and real quotes vary. See pricing.
Can a security robot replace security guards?
NXTGuard works alongside guards rather than replacing every one. Towers handle constant watching and deterrence, and NXTFusion OS alerts your team when something happens. NXTFusion OS can cut your staffing costs by up to 50%.
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives estimates based on the inputs you enter and NXTGuard starting prices. Your actual cost depends on your site, contract term and options. Get a Quote for an exact number.
Get an exact number
The calculator gives you a starting point. For a quote based on your site’s layout, hours and goals, talk to our team.