Security Officer Level 3 Pay Rate 2026
As of 1 July 2026, a Security Officer Level 3 under the Security Services Industry Award (MA000016) earns a published minimum of $29.73 an hour ($1,129.80 a week, about $58,908 a year) full-time before tax.
The Security Services Industry Award covers the private security industry: firms that supply guarding, patrol and monitoring services to sites, venues, retail centres and events. It applies to security officers and guards on static posts, mobile patrol officers, crowd controllers at venues and events, control-room and alarm-monitoring operators, and cash-in-transit and armoured-vehicle crews. The officer levels rise with the skills and responsibility involved, from basic guarding through to advanced and supervisory duties. Because clients need cover at all hours, the award is built around round-the-clock rostering across day, night and weekend shifts.
Minimum pay rates
| Employment type | Hourly | Weekly | Annual (× 52.14) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time / part-time | $29.73 | $1,129.80 | $58,908 |
Penalty rates
| When | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | $44.60 | $52.03 |
| Sunday | $59.46 | $66.89 |
| Public holiday | $74.33 | $81.76 |
Security is a round-the-clock industry, so higher rates commonly apply to evening and overnight shifts as well as to Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Overtime worked beyond rostered hours is generally paid at a higher rate too.
Overtime rates
| Overtime | Full-time / part-time |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | $44.60 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | $59.46 |
| Sunday - all day | $59.46 |
| Public holiday - all day | $74.33 |
Work out your pay
Pick full-time, part-time or casual to see the exact published rate for this classification.
Common questions
How much does a Security Officer Level 3 get paid?
The published minimum for a Security Officer Level 3 is $29.73 an hour, which comes to $1,129.80 for a standard full-time week, or about $58,908 across a year. These rates took effect on 1 July 2026 and are the legal minimum before any allowances, penalties or overtime.
What are the weekend and public holiday rates?
Weekend and public holiday shifts are usually paid at a higher rate. The published Saturday rate is $44.60 an hour and the Sunday rate is $59.46 an hour, while work on a public holiday is set at $74.33 an hour.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. Last checked .
Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database for the Security Services Industry Award (MA000016).
General information only — not legal, industrial or financial advice. These are the published minimum rates for information. Your modern award or enterprise agreement prevails if there is any inconsistency. Check the official source above or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your situation.