Baltimore City Council Passes Bill to Raise Wages and Benefits for Commercial Security Officers

The new law aims to provide a basic standard of living for workers, many of whom are Black.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Baltimore City Council has passed a bill that will raise wages and improve benefits for commercial security officers in the city. The bill requires employers to pay officers either the wages, benefits, and time off provided to federally contracted officers under the Service Contract Act or the average wage of security officers in Baltimore, whichever is higher. Union leaders say the new law will help address high turnover rates and public safety concerns.

Why it matters

The majority of commercial security officers in Baltimore are Black, making this legislation an important step towards addressing racial and economic disparities. The improved wages and benefits are expected to provide a basic standard of living for these essential workers and help improve public safety by reducing high turnover rates.

The details

The bill, passed by the city council on Monday, requires security employers in Baltimore to pay their officers either the wages, benefits and time off provided to federally contracted officers under the Service Contract Act or the average wage or security officers who work in the city; whichever is higher. Under the bill, employers would be able to provide the compensation in a mix of wages and benefits or in cash. Currently, the wage rate for federally contracted officers in Baltimore is $18.29 with a $5.55 per hour health supplement. Workers get 2 to 4 weeks of vacation — depending on their seniority — and 11 paid holidays each year. Many security officers in the Baltimore area earn about $15.80 an hour, so this bill could raise wages for nearly 4,500 workers in the city.

  • The bill was passed by the Baltimore City Council on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • The bill is now heading to the mayor's desk for signature.

The players

Zeke Cohen

Baltimore City Council President.

Jermaine Jones

Baltimore City Councilman.

Jaime Contreras

Executive Vice President of 32BJ SEIU, a service workers' union with more than 1,800 members in Baltimore.

32BJ SEIU

A service workers' union with more than 1,800 members in Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“As the overwhelming majority of security officers in Baltimore are Black, it's all the more meaningful to achieve this milestone during Black history month.”

— Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of 32BJ SEIU

“We look forward to seeing this bill become law as soon as possible because Baltimore workers of color cannot afford to wait any longer.”

— Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of 32BJ SEIU

What’s next

The bill is now heading to the mayor's desk for signature. If signed into law, the new wage and benefit requirements for commercial security officers in Baltimore will go into effect.

The takeaway

This legislation is an important step towards addressing racial and economic disparities in Baltimore by providing a basic standard of living for the city's predominantly Black commercial security workforce. The improved wages and benefits are expected to help reduce high turnover rates and improve public safety.