As of August 2026, armed security in Miami averages around $19.55/hour, with most postings between roughly $16 and $20.50. Unarmed postings generally sit lower, commonly near the $16 mark.
Miami-Dade carries a large and consistent volume of armed openings — several hundred at any given time — and many list the Class G as a hard requirement, not a preference. Fewer qualified applicants, more posts.
The gap
A few dollars an hour does not sound dramatic until you annualise it. On a full-time schedule, a $3/hour difference is roughly $6,000 a year. That is the practical value of the licence, before you account for the fact that armed posts are also more likely to be steady, contracted, and long-term.
What it costs to get there
Two separate costs, and people routinely conflate them:
- State licensing fees — set by FDACS, published in their fee schedules, and nothing to do with any school. Links on our officer resources page.
- Training tuition — the 28-hour Class G course, plus four hours annually thereafter. Call 305.458.8429 for current Alpha One rates; they vary with the course and any group arrangement.
Set against a mid-four-figure annual pay difference, most officers are ahead well inside the first year.
Where the armed work is
Armed demand in Miami-Dade concentrates in a few predictable places, and knowing them is worth as much as the licence:
- Doral — warehouses, freight forwarding, air cargo near MIA, corporate campuses. High-value goods, round-the-clock posts.
- Hialeah and the northwest county — distribution and industrial along Okeechobee Road and the Palmetto.
- Downtown and Brickell — financial services and residential towers.
- Kendall and the south — school posts, retail, gated communities.
- Homestead and South Dade — agricultural, industrial, and event security.
The part that costs people money
Earning the licence is one thing. Keeping it is where officers lose income, and almost always for the same reason: the Class G is issued for two years, but requalification is due every 12 months. Miss the first-year requalification and Florida suspends the licence automatically — and a suspended officer cannot work the armed post they took the class for.
Every Alpha One student's expiry date goes into our system with reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days. It is not a courtesy; it is the difference between a licence that earns and a licence that lapses.
Frequently asked questions
How much more do armed security officers make in Miami?
As of August 2026, armed security in Miami averages roughly $19.55/hour with most postings between about $16 and $20.50, against unarmed work commonly near $16. On full-time hours, the gap is typically several thousand dollars a year.
How long does it take to get a Class G?
The training itself is a 28-hour course. Total time also depends on completing the prerequisite Class D and FDACS processing. Call us with your situation and we will give you a realistic timeline.
Is there actually demand for armed officers in Miami?
Consistently, yes. Miami-Dade lists several hundred armed security openings at any given time, and many name the Class G as a requirement rather than a preference — which is precisely why holding one is worth money.
What does it cost to keep the licence?
Four hours of requalification training and a 48-round qualification every 12 months, plus state renewal fees set by FDACS. Call 305.458.8429 for current training rates.