Baltimore City Council Passes Minimum Wage Hike for Security Guards

The new law will impact 4,500 security workers in the city.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Baltimore City Council has passed a bill that will raise the minimum wage for security guards in the city. The bill will impact an estimated 4,500 security workers and require their pay to match either the average wage earned in large commercial buildings or the federal standard for federally contracted officers, which is currently $18.29 per hour plus $5.55 per hour for benefits.

Why it matters

The move is intended to better compensate security guards who play a vital role in protecting Baltimore residents, especially given the city's shortage of police officers. The higher wages are expected to improve recruitment and retention of security personnel.

The details

The bill was sponsored by Baltimore City Councilman Jermaine Jones. It will require security guards in the city to be paid at least the average wage for the industry or the federal standard for federally contracted officers, whichever is higher. This is expected to impact around 4,500 security workers in the city.

  • The Baltimore City Council passed the bill on February 11, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's desk for final approval.

The players

Jermaine Jones

Baltimore City Councilman and sponsor of the minimum wage bill for security guards.

Zeke Cohen

Baltimore City Council President, who said the security guards help protect city residents due to a shortage of police officers.

Brandon Scott

The Mayor of Baltimore, who will decide whether to approve the minimum wage bill for security guards.

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What they’re saying

“There are hundreds of Baltimore City residents that go to work every day, every night, in the hot summer and in the cold winters, making sure that Baltimore City is safe.”

— Jermaine Jones, Baltimore City Councilman (wbal.com)

“We know in Baltimore, we have a shortage of police officers. We're 400 officers short. So security officers are there to protect and to keep us safe.”

— Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council President (wbal.com)

What’s next

The bill will now go to Mayor Brandon Scott's desk for final approval before becoming law.

The takeaway

This minimum wage increase for security guards is an effort by the Baltimore City Council to better compensate workers who play a crucial role in public safety, especially given the city's shortage of police officers. The higher wages are expected to help with recruitment and retention of security personnel.