1. March 2024
![Schnell reich werden in der Sicherheitsbranche?]()
Dieser Artikel beschäftigt sich damit, wie man in der privaten Sicherheitsbranche ordentlich Geld verdienen kann. Geht das überhaupt? Hier finden Sie verschiedene Strategien und Ansätze um Cash zu machen.
Von sauberen und unsauberen Methoden
In der Welt der privaten Sicherheit gibt es viele Wege, um erfolgreich zu sein – einige legal, andere… nun ja, etwas zweifelhaft. Wir alle haben von den Geschichten gehört: Der eine, der seine Alarmanlagenkarriere mit einem kleinen Einbruch startete, der Sicherheitsdienstmitarbeiter, der Dinge mitnimmt statt darauf aufzupassen, der Insider, der zuvor im Wachdienst arbeitete or Geldtransporteure auf Abwegen.
Aber hey, wir reden hier nicht von illegalen Machenschaften! Nein, nein, in diesem Blogbeitrag geht es darum, wie man in der privaten Sicherheitsbranche gut Geld verdienen kann, ohne dabei Gesetze zu brechen. Also lehnen Sie sich zurück, entspannen Sie sich und lassen Sie uns gemeinsam den Weg zu einem rechtschaffenen Vermögen in der Sicherheitswelt erkunden.
Schnell reich werden in der privaten Sicherheit?
Zugegeben: Dieser Artikel grenzt an Clickbaiting. Es ist ja bekannt, dass die klassische Sicherheitsbranche ingesamt ein Low-wage sector ist. Viele eher gering qualifizierte Sicherheitsmitarbeiter schrubben unzählige Stunden in ungesunder Schichtarbeit, um halbwegs gut über die Runden zu kommen. Gerade bei der derzeitigen Inflation und steigenden Kosten für die Lebenshaltung (Miete, Strom, Pkw,…) wird es immer schwieriger mit dem vergleichsweise geringen Einkommen klar zu kommen. Schnell und einfach in der Sicherheitsbranche reich zu werden ist eine Illusion: Vielmehr braucht es Wissen, Fleiß, Mut, Ehrgeiz, Kontakte und den richtigen Masterplan.
10 Ansätze um in der Security erfolgreich zu sein
Hier sind zehn Ansätze, die Sie verfolgen können, um besser zu verdienen und gegebenenfalls tatsächlich reich zu werden. Reich an Wissen, reich an Erfahrung und dann möglicherweise auch reich an monetären Mitteln:
- Bilden Sie sich fort und entwickeln Sie sich persönlich weiter!
Durch Bildung und persönliche Kompetenzen setzen Sie den Grundstock für Ihren Erfolg. Gehen Sie nicht mit der Masse, sondern heben Sie sich von den anderen ab. Ja – das ist anstrengend und man wird von seinem Umfeld zunächst möglicherweise abfällig beäugt und belächelt, doch Erfolg zahlt sich aus!
- Knüpfen Sie Kontakte!
Das richtige Netzwerk kann enorm wichtig sein. Zum einen kann dies oft motivierend sein, da man sich mit Gleichgesinnten umgibt, die Ideen haben und ebenfalls vorankommen wollen. Zum anderen kann der Austausch auch ansprechende Jobperspektiven, neue Aufträge oder andere Vorteile ermöglichen.
- Gehen Sie bewusst Risiken ein!
Es geht nicht darum, irgendwelche unkalkulierbaren Risiken in Kauf zu nehmen, um Erfolg zu haben, z.B. finanziell alles auf eine Karte zu setzen. Dennoch: Ohne Veränderung herrscht Stillstand. Der Sprung ins kalte Wasser, ein neuer Job, ein Umzug in eine andere Stadt oder andere Veränderungen haben oft Positives bewirkt. Sie können dazu durchaus auch auf mehrere Pferde setzen und schauen, was am besten funktioniert.
- Machen Sie sich selbstständig!
Als Unternehmer haben Sie mehr Möglichkeiten, um das Heft des Handelns selbst in die Hand zu nehmen und ein besseres Einkommen zu erzielen. Zugleich können Sie mit dem richtigen Businesskonzept hohe Margen erzielen und Skaleneffekte nutzen, z.B. wenn Sie irgendwann über einen eigenen Mitarbeiterstamm verfügen. Wichtig sind hier ein funktionierender Businessplan und die nötigen Fähigkeiten, um als Unternehmer erfolgreich zu sein.
- Setzen Sie auf Zukunftsthemen!
Moderne Technologien halten auch im privaten Sicherheitssektor Einzug: Mit Cybersecurity, Drohnen, künstlicher Intelligenz, Automatisierung und Digitalisierung, professioneller Sicherheitsberatung und Abo-Diensten könnten Sie glückliche Abnehmer sowohl innerhalb der Sicherheitsbranche als auch im Privatkundenumfeld finden. Hier sind ihre Ideen und Markbeobachtung gefragt.
- Gehen Sie die Extrameile!
Wie heißt es so schön: Ohne Fleiß, kein Preis. Tun Sie mehr als andere. Arbeiten Sie hart und verfolgen Sie Tag für Tag ihre Ziele. Erfolg fällt einem nicht in den Schoß, sondern ist das Ergebnis von hervorragenden Leistungen. Egal was Sie tun: Geben Sie stets das Beste!
- Spezialisieren Sie sich!
Egal ob Sie Arbeitnehmer sind oder als Unternehmer Leistungen anbieten: Liefern Sie Ihren Kunden ein Alleinstellungsmerkmal – also etwas, das andere so nicht anbieten. So stechen Sie aus der Masse hervor. Sie können das beispielsweise durch herausragende Qualifikationen und besondere Services erreichen.
- Erarbeiten Sie sich einen finanziellen Grundstock!
Ein gewisses Startkapital ist häufig eine wesentliche Voraussetzung, wenn Sie durchstarten möchten. Zur Schaffung eines finanziellen Grundstocks sind bestimmte Bereiche der private Sicherheit gar nicht so schlecht. Beispielsweise im Geld- und Werttransport kann man binnen vergleichsweise kurzer Zeit gut verdienen, genauso als Luftsicherheitskontrollkraft am Flughafen, als Sicherheitsmitarbeiter im eigenen Werkschutz von Industrieunternehmen oder eben generell in Leitungs- bzw. Führungspositionen wie z.B. als Meister für Schutz und Sicherheit.
- Versuchen Sie möglichst wenig Zeit gegen Geld zu tauschen!
Vor allem als Arbeitnehmer, aber auch als Selbstständiger tauschen Sie Ihre Lebenszeit gegen Geld. Sie bieten also eine Stunde Dienstleistung und erhalten dafür einen Stundenlohn bzw. berechnen Ihren Stundensatz. Auf diese Weise können Sie kaum reich werden. Denn der Tag hat nur 24 Stunden. Versuchen Sie etwas zu bieten, das Kunden weitgehend entkoppelt von Ihrer eigenen Zeit nutzen können, beispielsweise digitale Angebote wie Online-Kurse oder skalieren Sie ihr Business, z.B. auch indem Sie eigene Mitarbeiter einstellen.
- Nutzen Sie ihre Stärken!
Was ist damit gemeint?
Wenn Sie gut mit fremden Menschen kommunizieren können, wäre möglicherweise eine Nebentätigkeit im Vertrieb oder in der Jobvermittlung etwas. Durch Provisionen lassen sich damit auch in der Sicherheitsbranche hohe Einkommen realisieren.
Wenn Sie gut im Planen und Organisieren sind, wäre eventuell eine (zusätzliche) Tätigkeit in der Sicherheitskonzeption oder der Vorbereitung von Veranstaltungen etwas für Sie.
Wenn Sie gut im Verfassen von Texten sind, könnten Sie ein eigenes Buch im Kontext private Sicherheit herausbringen.
Wenn Sie gut präsentieren können, warum versuchen Sie es nicht mit gelegentlichen Tätigkeiten für ein Schulungsunternehmen?
Das sind alles nur Beispiele, aber wie Sie sehen, gibt es prinzipiell recht viele Möglichkeiten um aufzustocken oder sogar noch mehr daraus zu machen.
Conclusion
In der privaten Sicherheitsbranche reich zu werden ist – genau wie in anderen Branchen auch – möglich, aber statistisch gesehen eher unwahrscheinlich. Definitiv machbar aber ist es, sich etwas hinzu zu verdienen. Man kann dadurch sehen, was einem sonst noch liegt und erste Schritte in die Selbstständigkeit wagen. Sicherlich immer sinnvoll ist es, sich fachlich und persönlich weiterzuentwickeln, da dies wichtige Erfolgskriterien sind und besser ausgebildetes Personal auch besser bezahlt wird.
Wenn Sie Ideen haben und Anmerkungen zu diesem Beitrag haben, freue ich mich über einen Kommentar!
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.)
9 February 2023
![Who does not need to pass an examination?]()
Only security staff require a competence examination, which is special guarding activities according to § 34a GewO or wish to set up their own security company. The activities that may only be carried out with the 34a licence include, in particular, guarding in public areas, at admission areas or in various security activities in a managerial position: More here.
However, even if you want to carry out an activity for which the successful passing of a certificate of competence examination is actually mandatory, there are certain exceptions. Not all persons need the certificate of competence, even if they carry out regulated guarding activities or are self-employed as a security contractor with their own security company.
Who is exempt from the 34a examination…
Basically applies: Anyone who has completed a higher-level training or further training with a recognised (IHK) qualification in the security industry does not need an additional certificate of competence!
But be careful! There are a few more pitfalls. Here are the details on the exemption from the expert knowledge examination:
A person is exempt from the expert knowledge examination if he…
- certified plant security specialist (WSFK) or as a certified protection and security worker (GSSK),
- as a service worker for protection and security (SSS) or as a specialist for protection and security (FSS),
- as a certified master craftsman for protection and security or as a certified master craftswoman for protection and security (MSS),
- as a certified plant security foreman or forewoman,
…has successfully passed the corresponding final examination. Proof of this can be provided by presenting the respective examination certificate.
I have successfully completed the so-called “plant security courses”. Is this the same as the examination for expert knowledge?
No! The factory security courses (factory security course 1–2 or 1–4) are — without successfully passing the examination to become a factory security specialist — not equivalent! You need the expert examination. In addition, the IHK works protection specialist examination is no longer offered.
I was in the armed forces. Do I still have to take the examination?
Basically already. Caution is advised here: As a person doing basic military service, a temporary soldier or a professional soldier, you have to take the expert knowledge examination — regardless of whether you are currently obliged to be a soldier or not — if you (additionally) want to work in the private security sector and perform the corresponding guarding tasks. The only exception is for military police, i.e. the military police of the German Armed Forces. Military police officers are exempt from the expert knowledge examination, as military police officers have acquired a large part of the knowledge required in the expert knowledge examination during their training courses. Military police officers or sergeants, for example, do not need to take a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) examination; the proof is provided by the Bundeswehr’s training or service record. All other soldiers must acquire the 34a certificate.
Do I need a certificate of competence as a police officer?
There are exceptions both for police officers at state level (Land police) and at federal level (Bundespolizei). By the way, the same applies to employees in the correctional service and to the weapons-carrying area of the customs service. It is important to note that the obligation to take the examination is only waived if you work in law enforcement and have successfully completed the corresponding career examination — at least for the intermediate service. Police officers who work as civil servants in the police enforcement service therefore do not need a certificate of competence. Many police officers earn extra money privately, e.g. as doormen. Especially in conurbations where life is expensive, such as Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin or Düsseldorf, a part-time job in a security company is a good way to earn extra money. Tip on the side: Make sure that you inform your (main) employer about your side job and ideally have it approved in writing.
I studied law, have an LL.B. or a state law degree. Do I really still need to take the expert knowledge examination?
It’s hard to believe: but of course, a (part-time) job in the security industry can also be interesting for prospective lawyers, be it to finance their studies or to gain impressions of the industry. Of course: In the field of law (public safety and order, trade law, data protection law, criminal law and criminal procedure law, civil code, code of criminal procedure, etc.) law graduates are already fit. That’s why you only need to catch up on the topics of accident prevention in the security industry (UVV, DGUV regulation 23), dealing with people and the basics of security technology. A certificate of participation in the IHK instruction procedure serves as proof of this. Together with a certificate of successful completion of a law degree at a university or academy that awards a degree equivalent to a university degree, no additional completion of the expert knowledge examination pursuant to §34a GewO is required.
I have been working as a security guard for many years. Is work experience not enough recognition?
No, not normally! However, there are certain transitional arrangements for “veteran” security workers. Employees in the private security sector who have participated in the required training since 1 April 1996 or who were already working in the security sector before 31 March 1996 and were previously exempt from training due to this cut-off date regulation are, so to speak, “grandfathered”. Attention: This exemption may only be invoked if it can be shown that the guarding activity was uninterrupted for at least three years before the cut-off date of 1 January 2003. For all others who have only been active in the security industry since 2003, such exemptions do not apply.
So it is complicated! My tip: It is better to invest in taking the qualification examination and benefit from a “knowledge update” even as an experienced security employee!
Attention: Special cases!
There are some other special cases, such as the possible recognition of foreign certificates of competence. It is also not always clear whether the type of activity to be performed requires a qualification examination at all. If it is a matter of simple stewarding activities (e.g. car park ushers) or simply checking and tearing off admission tickets, there is usually no need for an expert knowledge examination, and in some cases not even the instruction according to § 34a GewO. However, borderline cases such as supervision or security services in museums or certain constellations of activities in event protection are sometimes controversial. (Such borderline cases are discussed again in separate articles here on the Infoportal).
An important note: To be on the safe side, ask the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the competent authority whether your qualification is sufficient or whether you also have to take the IHK examination according to § 34a GewO. You will then receive legally secure, personal information. If you are new to private security, you are then allowed to carry out the corresponding activities after your reliability has been checked and you have been assigned the guard ID!
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