28 April 2023
![The Future of the Private Security Industry in Germany: Man or Machine?]()
The private security industry is an important economic sector in Germany and employs many people. In 2022, there were a total of just under 260,000 employees in the private security sector in Germany, working in around 5,700 guard and security companies. These are considerable figures. Private security is increasingly taking over formerly purely sovereign tasks in certain areas and has thus become an important player — partly also in the area of public safety and order.
But how will private security develop in the future? Will human security guards increasingly be replaced by machines? Or will humans continue to play an important role in the security industry in the future? In this article we take a look at the future of the private security industry in Germany.
The role of people in the private security industry
Human security personnel have many advantages over machines. They can assign human actions more unerringly and react adequately. They can better assess dangerous situations and act appropriately. They have the ability to react to unforeseen events and act flexibly. Especially in situations where empathy, understanding and interpersonal communication are important, human security personnel are irreplaceable.
Furthermore, there are certain activities in the security industry that are difficult to automate. For example, monitoring people and checking identification documents requires a high level of expertise, experience and empathy. These activities also require cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, which currently cannot be fully taken over by machines.
The role of machines in the private security industry
However, there are also activities in the security sector that can be supported by machines. For example, cameras and other technical devices can be used to monitor buildings and public places. The recordings can be analysed by human security guards in order to recognise and react to dangerous situations. However, systems that evaluate the recorded image material directly with the help of a computer and sound the alarm if necessary are faster and more reliable in the masses.
The first automated systems, for example in the area of access control, already existed many years ago. Guard robots that are equipped with detectors and, for example, patrol warehouses fully automatically have also been used for some time. Drone technology is also becoming increasingly popular for applications in the private security sector — for example, when it comes to alarm tracking or verification. Here, however, the legal hurdles are still quite high and often prevent its use in practice.
In addition, technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to detect patterns and anomalies in large amounts of data. In this way, security forces can be alerted to potential threats at an early stage and react accordingly.
The future of the private security industry
It is unlikely that machines will completely replace human security guards. Humans will continue to play an important role in the security industry. However, machines will play an increasingly important role and support human security guards in certain activities. Private security companies must adapt to these changes and train and develop their staff accordingly to meet the demands of the future.
Conclusion
The future of the private security industry in Germany will be shaped by a combination of human labour and the capabilities of machines. Humans will not be replaced, but will develop further and take on other activities. This means that there will be a shift in tasks. While perception tasks can largely be taken over by machines, private security forces will increasingly take on other, more demanding tasks.
12 February 2023
![How much money does one earn as an employee in the security service with a certificate of competence?]()
Talking around it is useless. One thing is clear: The traditional security industry is a low-wage sector!
Nevertheless: the security industry offers variety, responsible, exciting and also quiet jobs. And if you’re smart, you can make ends meet. But — what do you earn as a security guard with a certificate of competence?
What matters when it comes to earnings in the security industry…
If you decide to work in the private security sector or are looking for a new employer, the financial aspects certainly play a major role. There are several factors that contribute to a good hourly wage. The most important aspects for a more attractive salary are listed below.
Level of education and training
Obviously, the better trained you are, the higher your earning potential. As an unskilled security guard only with training according to § 34a GewO, you will very often not be paid much more than the minimum wage. With the expert knowledge examination, you can achieve a good bit more basic hourly wage with manageable effort.. You can go even further with further training to become a certified protection and security worker or with training to become a specialist for protection and security. Incidentally, the minimum wage nationwide has been 12.43 euros per hour since 1 January 2023. The increase to 13 euros per hour from 1 April 2023 has already been decided.
Additional qualifications
Additional qualifications, for example in first aid or fire protection (e.g. as a fire protection assistant), are very helpful and increase the market value of security staff. These do not always have a direct effect on the hourly wage, but they are always a plus point in job applications. Additional qualifications include the following:
- Fire safety helper
- Evacuation helper
- Lift rescue (rescue of persons from lifts)
- Intervention force
- NSL specialist
- Safety Officer (Occupational Safety)
- Hygiene/Health Officer
- Basic knowledge course in radiation protection and decontamination
- Weapons expertise examination
Intercultural skills and knowledge of foreign languages, especially at least basic English, should also not be underestimated.
Activity
The security industry has many facets and therefore the activities that security workers perform are also very diverse. Accordingly, there are sometimes serious wage differences. Security activities such as separate guards and simple guarding activities are often rather poorly paid. Jobs that require special skills often pay well. For example in the Aviation security, in the range Cash and valuables transport, during the activity in nuclear facilities, in which Underground and suburban railway guarding or as an NSL specialist in Emergency call and service control centres the earnings are often significantly higher than the industry average. The exact amount of the wage for the job can be found in the Collective agreements take from them. If they have been declared generally binding, which is usually the case, they apply to all employees. (It is best to add the federal state to the Google search to narrow down the results).
Working hours
Anyone who is already active in the industry and works in shifts knows it: Often, biorhythms and private life suffer from the changing working hours. However, working night shifts, Sundays and public holidays often offers decisive financial advantages. Depending on the federal state/collective agreement, the following benefits can be earned Night, Sunday and public holiday surcharges that are well worth seeing. What’s more, these tax-free! On public holidays in many places 100% Surcharge possiblei.e. in addition to the actual daily wage, you receive the same amount again — but tax-free! Viewed over the month, depending of course on the amount of night, Sunday and public holiday hours, the following can be achieved Several hundred euros on top earn. Especially around the turn of the year or at Easter, this can be a lucrative affair.
Overtime/overtime
Overtime is, of course, a partial aspect of working hours. Nevertheless, I would like to devote a separate point to this aspect here. Why? Because experience shows that a lot of overtime is worked in the security sector, often much more than is legally permissible and with too few breaks between assignments. Think carefully about whether you want to go along with this and should actually work 200, 220, 240 or even more hours per month. My tip at this point would be to invest in further education and not to trade so much time for money: Memento Mori — your lifetime is also limited. Set priorities and make a good decision for you, also for your future.
State
As in other industries, there is a West-East divide in the private security sector. In the past, these wage differences were really glaring. Security workers in Berlin earned in some areas not even half of those who worked in Bavaria. As a rule, the best-paid federal states include Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the lowest paid are still the new federal states, for example Brandenburg or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Just a few years ago, one could barely keep one’s head above water with a job as a security guard in the East German states. However, the minimum wage and the gradual convergence of collective agreements are increasingly putting the differences into perspective. In addition, one should not forget that where people earn more, they usually earn less. Cost of living (especially rents) are higher. So think carefully — if you are toying with the idea — whether a move is really worth it for you.
Industry
Many people think of security service jobs in the classic way, as the security company that as a service provider external customers. Whereas in the past, veteran employees in factories came to the plant security service towards the end of their working lives to spend the last years of their careers doing less strenuous work, the situation has changed considerably nowadays. Professional, external security service providers look after a large number of companies from business and industry or the public sector as clients. But they still exist, despite the decades-long trend towards outsourcing. The Internal plant security. Especially in industry, property and plant protection activities are when you are directly employed by the manufacturing company, very well paid. Der Grund hierfür ist, dass Sie nach dem Branchentarif bezahlt werden, dem die Masse der Belegschaft angehört. Werfen Sie einen Blick in die Rate tables for the metal and electrical industry! These monthly salaries are in a different league.
Allowances
Allowances regulated by collective agreement are usually paid for guard/shift leaders, for dog handlers or in certain facilities such as military properties. Likewise, there are often allowances for on-call duties, e.g. for (additional) work in the plant fire brigade. These range from a few cents per hour up to over 10% more pay. In Bavaria, there is also slightly more money if you work in the greater Munich area.
Security companies or their clients also sometimes pay Voluntary (revocable) allowances. Manchmal gibt es auch Einmal-Prämien für besonders erfolgreiche Einsätze oder für herausragende Arbeitsleistungen. Leider sind diese Art Zulagen aber eher die Ausnahme. Immer häufiger vorzufinden ist aber eine Wechselprämie, also so eine Art „Begrüßungsgeld“. Das allein sollte aber aber nicht unbedingt der alleinige Grund für einen Arbeitgeberwechsel sein.
Concrete numbers
You would like to know concrete figures?
If you have read the article up to this point, you will realise that this is difficult, as it can depend on a number of factors such as the federal state, the job, the working hours and their (additional) qualifications. Nevertheless, a concrete example:
- Monthly salary in the separate guard service with IHK specialist knowledge examination in 2023 in Bavaria:
14,00 Euro per hour
180 hours per month
thereof
- 12h holiday
- 16h Sunday
- 60h night
This results in approx. 2520 euros of taxable income (gross) and just under 420 euros of tax-free supplements.With income tax class 1 and no children, a single person thus receives approx. 2170 Euro net transferred. However, this calculation is for illustrative purposes only. Your actual salary paid out may depend on numerous factors!
Hint: This article was last updated in February 2023. As there are regular adjustments to both the minimum wage and collective agreement regulations, the framework conditions may have changed in the meantime! (All information without guarantee.)
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