This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers engaged in Security Services / Watch and Ward in Karnataka. Whether you employ or work as a security guard, watchman or supervisor in Karnataka, the rates below reflect the latest wage notification for this scheduled employment.
Minimum wage rates for Security Services / Watch and Ward in Karnataka
| Category of worker | Zone I | Zone II | Zone III | Zone IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Un-skilled | ₹620.66 | ₹599.43 | ₹579.22 | ₹559.97 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹665.22 | ₹641.88 | ₹619.65 | ₹598.47 |
| Skilled | ₹714.25 | ₹688.57 | ₹664.11 | ₹640.82 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹768.18 | ₹739.93 | ₹713.03 | ₹687.41 |
Rates effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
What counts as Security Services / Watch and Ward
Security Services, also called Watch and Ward, covers the guarding, surveillance, patrolling and access control of persons, property and premises by private security personnel. It includes both unarmed and armed guarding duties, whether provided through a licensed security agency or by an establishment that employs its own watch and ward staff.
- Residential societies, apartment complexes and gated communities
- Commercial buildings, office parks and IT campuses
- Factories, warehouses and industrial estates
- Banks, ATMs and cash-handling facilities
- Hospitals, educational institutions and government offices
- Shopping malls, hotels and event or exhibition venues
- Licensed private security agencies deploying guards to client sites
Typical roles and skill categories
- Security Guard (unarmed)
- Armed Guard / Gunman
- Watchman / Gatekeeper
- Patrolling Guard
- Head Guard
- Security Supervisor
- Security Officer
- CCTV / Surveillance Operator
- Fire and Safety Guard
In this employment, the unskilled and semi-skilled categories typically cover watchmen, gatekeepers and general unarmed security guards, while the skilled and highly skilled categories usually map to armed guards, gunmen, head guards, security supervisors and officers who carry weapons or supervise a guarding contingent. Extra training, arms licensing or supervisory responsibility usually moves a role into a higher skill band.
Who fixes this wage
Security Services / Watch and Ward is a notified scheduled employment for which the Karnataka government fixes minimum wages by skill category, namely unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled. Rates are frequently notified separately by geographical zone or area class, so the payable wage can differ across locations within Karnataka.
How Karnataka sets minimum wages
Karnataka fixes minimum wages under its Shops and Commercial Establishments schedule, dividing the state into four zones numbered I to IV. Rates are set for four categories of worker and are kept current through a variable dearness allowance rather than a fresh base notification each period. The dearness-allowance revision applies from 1 April 2026 and runs through to 31 March 2027.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Security Services / Watch and Ward in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, the minimum wage for Security Services / Watch and Ward currently runs from about ₹559.97 to ₹768.18 per day, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The exact figure by category is in the table below. Confirm the exact rate for your worker's skill category and zone in the table above, and against the latest official notification.
Are private security agencies covered by the Karnataka minimum wage for Watch and Ward?
Yes. A security agency that supplies guards to client premises must pay each deployed worker at least the minimum wage notified for Security Services / Watch and Ward in Karnataka, according to that worker's skill category, irrespective of the amount billed to the client.
Does an armed guard or gunman get a higher minimum wage than an unarmed guard?
Generally yes. Armed guards, gunmen and supervisory security staff usually fall into a higher skill category than unarmed watchmen and guards, so the notified rate for that higher band applies. Confirm the skill classification against the rate table to see which category a given role falls into in Karnataka.
Do night shifts and long duty hours change what a security guard must be paid?
The minimum wage is the floor for normal working hours. Overtime for hours worked beyond the statutory limit, along with any additional entitlement for night duty where required, is payable over and above the minimum wage; a flat monthly amount that works out below the per-day or per-month minimum for the guard's skill category in Karnataka is not permitted.
Never underpay in Karnataka
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