Budgeting To Have A Bodyguard Or To Be One

If you are among the select individuals that find the need for a bodyguard, you may not be so concerned with the price of that particular service. However, for the rest of us, have you ever wondered how much a contract bodyguard would cost if you were to hire one? What if you were thinking about going into business as a bodyguard, whether for yourself or with an agency? It would be beneficial to know going into the venture how much you could stand to earn.

Although earnings vary from state to state depending on the local cost of living, the common income for a full time bodyguard falls between about $52,000 and $75,000. The variables include experience level, age, education and industry. Corporate bodyguards that more commonly protect CEOs and executives average annual earnings of around $54,000. The highest paid bodyguards are those of the banking industry, with average earnings around $77,000. The entertainment industry is between the two with approximately $70,000.

You should not expect to begin your first day as a bodyguard with a salary of this magnitude. The earning potential of bodyguards is something that grows over time just like any other profession. Most likely it will be necessary to work your way up before you can expect to earn close to these national average. If you get involved with an agency, you may have more of an opportunity for advancement, as well as the benefit of having a steady paycheck.

If working for someone else's business isn't your style, maybe you would be happier running your own bodyguard business. If this simply involves offering your services to those who need them and collecting the fee, business should run pretty easily. However, it is when you decide to expand and possibly take on employees that the business starts to complicate. This is the day you go from being bodyguard to being a business owner. Then you are the one worrying about how to pay your bodyguards what they are worth.

If you are working alone and setting your own rates, it is up to you to find out what other bodyguards in the area and industry are charging for their services. A certified bodyguard for general private sector use can start at around $65 per hour. Other bodyguards offering "executive protection" advertise $150-$500 per hour. The rates for a professional bodyguard vary mostly depending on what part of the country they practice in (Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York will be more expensive than, say, Salt Lake City, Utah or Fort Worth, Texas). In addition to geographic location, the specific area of expertise and level of threat will drive the price up too.

Elijah Shaw is a professional bodyguard to such celebrities as Usher and Naomi Campbell. He is also the CEO of Icon Services Corporation, an executive protection and bodyguard service. Though his company may staff up to or over a hundred bodyguards, Elijah can still be seen offering his personal protection to Hollywood's elite for the bargain price of about $3000 per hour. He can charge this amount because he has made a name for himself in his industry and is regularly seen with celebrities, which makes other celebrities request him even more.

If you are budgeting for a bodyguard, you will most likely be able to find one in your price range, given the wide variety bodyguards available. Decide what types of services you will require, what level of protection you will need and for what amount of time. 24-7 protection will be much more expensive than getting a bodyguard for a few hours to escort you on a high risk business transaction. After you know what you need, being looking for bodyguard services in your area, and be sure to check for credentials. They have no right charging an arm and a leg if they are not certified, trained and bonded. In personal protection services, you get what you pay for.