Security Integrator Hourly Rates 2013
Author: John Honovich, Published on Dec 18, 2013
The median security integrator hourly rate charged is $90 to $100 USD per hour with 90% of integrators charging between $75 and $125 USD per hour, uncovered in a unique IPVM integrator survey. In this note, we break down the key factors impacting pricing, share color commentary from integrators and explain how to best make use of these results.
*** ****** ******** ********** ****** **** ******* ** $** ** Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.
Related Reports
ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report
on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East.
ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Magos Radar Company Profile
on Nov 12, 2018
Magos America General Manager Yaron Zussman admits when he first came across Magos, he asked himself: "What's innovative about radar?" Be that as...
Video Surveillance Hard Drive Size Statistics 2018
on Nov 08, 2018
What is the most common hard drive size for video surveillance?
150+ integrators answered:
What size hard drive do you most commonly use? What...
Favorite Video Surveillance Hard Drive Manufacturer 2018
on Nov 06, 2018
Who is the favorite hard drive for video surveillance use?
150+ integrators answered:
What is your preferred brand/model of hard drive for...
Winter 2019 IP Networking Course
on Nov 05, 2018
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals.
Lots of network training exists but none of it...
Worst Products
on Nov 03, 2018
Security integrators periodically report on their favorite and worst products to IPVM. These are known integrators who IPVM pays to answer surveys....
Video Surveillance Hard Drive Failure Statistics 2018
on Nov 02, 2018
Hard drive failures can be significant service problems but how common of an issue are they in video surveillance? How long do drives last when...
Cloud Video Storage Usage 2018
on Oct 31, 2018
Storing email and documents in the cloud have long been common, with on-site email or file servers increasingly eliminated.
However, what about...
ADT Acquires Red Hawk, Becomes Billion Dollar Commercial Business
on Oct 25, 2018
With its ~7th commercial acquisition in the past year, ADT is transforming itself from a residential provider to a commercial player with now more...
Exacq Co-Founders Return, Start Qumulex
on Oct 24, 2018
Exacq co-founders Dan Rittman, Tom Buckley, and David Underwood are back, starting up Qumulex.
In 2000, they sold Integral to Andover...
Most Recent Industry Reports
'Sticker' Surveillance Camera Developed (CSEM Witness)
on Nov 16, 2018
The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) has announced what it calls the:
world’s first fully autonomous camera that can be...
ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report
on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East.
ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Facial Detection Tested
on Nov 16, 2018
Facial detection and recognition are increasingly offered by video surveillance manufacturers.
Facial detection detects faces in an image/video...
Throughtek P2P/Cloud Solution Profile
on Nov 15, 2018
Many IoT manufacturers either do not have the capabilities or the interest to develop their own cloud management software for their devices....
ASIS Offering Custom Research For Manufacturers
on Nov 15, 2018
Manufacturers often want to know what industry people think about trends and, in particular, the segments and product they offer.
ASIS and its...
Hikvision Silent on "Bad Architectural Practices" Cybersecurity Report
on Nov 14, 2018
A 'significant vulnerability was found in Hikvision cameras' by VDOO, a startup cybersecurity specialist. Hikvision has fixed the specific...
French Government Threatens School with $1.7M Fine For “Excessive Video Surveillance”
on Nov 14, 2018
The French government has notified a high-profile Paris coding academy that it risks a fine of up to 1.5 million euros (about $1.7m) if it...
Integrator Credit Card Alternative Divvy
on Nov 13, 2018
Most security integrators are small businesses but large enough that they have various employees that need to be able to expense various charges as...
Directory of Video Intercoms
on Nov 13, 2018
Video Intercoms, also known as Video Door-Phones or Video Entry Systems, have been growing in the past decade as more and more IP camera...
Beware Amazon Go Store Hype (Tested)
on Nov 13, 2018
IPVM's trip to and testing of Amazon Go's San Francisco store shows a number of significant operational and economic issues that undermine the...
The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.
Comments (16)
Alan Kruglak
The actual cost per hour for a technician runs between $65 to $80 per hour. This includes his time, training, inefficiency, vehicle (gas and insurance, depreciation, maintenance), etc.
That is why hourly rates need to be as high as possible to recoup the funds associated with a scare resource - - quality technical labor.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed Integrator #1
How many people base the hourly rate on the type of work done, not just the person doing it? For example, maybe a level 2 or 3 tech is the only one available to do some level 1 work. Are you going to charge the customer the level 2 or 3 rate just because the person is an advanced professional? Or only charge the rate based on the level of work done?
If one person goes out and spends an hour moving a dome (level 1) and then spends an hour setting up advanced analytics for crossed line with email and SMS alerts (level 2), would you charge the customer 1 hour for level one work and 1 hour for level 2 work, or the same rate for both hours?
I know what I would do, I would only charge the rate applicable to the work being done. (1 hour level 1 and 1 hour level 2 in the example above.) How is it fair charging the customer for work done at a pay rate almost half of what your paying a system specialist, and why would I spend the money sending two people (a level 1 person and a level 2 person) out to a jobsite if one is capable of getting all the work done in one shot, which is more efficient.
I'm curious if anyone had any other varying opinions.
BTW, great poll!
Create New Topic
Ari Erenthal
Companies I worked for used to bill me out at $65-$75 an hour for installation work (depending on the difficulty of the work, the distances traveled, and how much demand I had on my time in general), and $45 an hour for troubleshooting, with a minimum of 8 to 10 hours, maximum of 20 hours. Of course, I haven't been an installer in 7 years.
I used to like troubleshooting. It's like doing a puzzle blindfolded. I like puzzles. But my goodness me, was it ever time consuming.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed Integrator #2
I stopped paying contractors hourly a long time ago (other then for really small service jobs), we do it all by the job now.
I had one idiot of a tech come out and deploy an Arecont system years ago. The customer called me and told me that one of the cameras never worked, I was out of the country and didn't have any employees at that time so I told the tech to go back and fix it. I told him to check the RJ45 crimps first and then troubleshoot from there. Well the idiot swore up and down that the RJ45 was done correctly and started to troubleshoot randomly. He called me 7.5 hours later and said the "camera is broken," I told him to redo the RJ45 crimps and reluctantly after 30 minutes of arguing he did it and 2 minutes later the camera was working. I told him I would pay the bill but he was never going to get another job from me and that he gets a bad name for his garbage inept service.
Create New Topic
Robert Fehrenbacher
I have been a tech in the security business for almost 30 years. As a field service tech I was not exposed to the Business side of the Business. After being laid off 9 months ago, I started my own Company in South Carolina (Now I get to wear all of the hats). I find the rates that are being listed here are above what I can charge by 30-60 percent. Most of the companies offering subcontract work will grumble if I add mileage to a job.
What am I missing here? Building a customer base is tough in this economy. When I bid work out, as a subcontractor, my rate is 50/hr. And yes, I do loose the work and bids if I ask for more.
Any suggestions from those of you that are more succesful than I am at Business?
Create New Topic
David Lieberman
Millionaires - YES! But I'm still trying to figure out how that ship sailed without me. I'll take a look at the other discussion. I appreciate your starting it. Should be helpful.
David
Create New Topic