Quick answer A watchman keeps watch over a residence, mostly at night, and responds to alarms and visitors. Pay is typically $18–$27 an hour in New York City, NY and AED 1,600–AED 2,800 a month in the UAE. Choose your city below for local pay, requirements and open positions.
Watchman pay by city 🇺🇸 United States City Typical pay Full-time monthly New York City, NY $18–$27 / hour $3,100–$4,650 Los Angeles, CA $16–$25 / hour $2,750–$4,350 Chicago, IL $16–$24 / hour $2,750–$4,150 Houston, TX $15–$23 / hour $2,600–$4,000 Dallas, TX $16–$23 / hour $2,750–$4,000 Miami, FL $15–$23 / hour $2,600–$4,000 Seattle, WA $18–$28 / hour $3,100–$4,850 Austin, TX $17–$25 / hour $2,950–$4,350 San Francisco, CA $18–$28 / hour $3,100–$4,850 Boston, MA $17–$26 / hour $2,950–$4,500 Atlanta, GA $16–$23 / hour $2,750–$4,000 Plano, TX $16–$24 / hour $2,750–$4,150
🇨🇦 Canada City Typical pay Full-time monthly Toronto, ON C$20–C$29 / hour C$3,450–C$5,000 Vancouver, BC C$19–C$29 / hour C$3,300–C$5,000 Montreal, QC C$18–C$27 / hour C$3,100–C$4,650 Calgary, AB C$20–C$30 / hour C$3,450–C$5,200
🇬🇧 United Kingdom City Typical pay Full-time monthly London, ENG £13–£18 / hour £2,250–£3,100 Manchester, ENG £13–£16 / hour £2,250–£2,750 Birmingham, ENG £13–£16 / hour £2,250–£2,750 Edinburgh, SCT £13–£16 / hour £2,250–£2,750
🇩🇪 Germany City Typical pay Full-time monthly Berlin, BE €13–€17 / hour €2,250–€2,950 Munich, BY €13–€18 / hour €2,250–€3,100 Frankfurt, HE €13–€18 / hour €2,250–€3,100 Hamburg, HH €13–€17 / hour €2,250–€2,950
🇦🇺 Australia City Typical pay Full-time monthly Sydney, NSW A$25–A$37 / hour A$4,350–A$6,400 Melbourne, VIC A$25–A$36 / hour A$4,350–A$6,250 Brisbane, QLD A$25–A$35 / hour A$4,350–A$6,050 Perth, WA A$25–A$37 / hour A$4,350–A$6,400
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates City Typical pay Full-time monthly Dubai, DXB AED 1,600–AED 2,800 / month AED 1,600–AED 2,800 Abu Dhabi, AUH AED 1,600–AED 2,800 / month AED 1,600–AED 2,800 Sharjah, SHJ AED 1,600–AED 2,800 / month AED 1,600–AED 2,800
🇨🇭 Switzerland City Typical pay Full-time monthly Zurich, ZH CHF 25–CHF 34 / hour CHF 4,350–CHF 5,900 Geneva, GE CHF 25–CHF 34 / hour CHF 4,350–CHF 5,900 Basel, BS CHF 25–CHF 34 / hour CHF 4,350–CHF 5,900
Indicative ranges based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.
What the job involves Watch the property during the shift Check doors, windows and gates Respond to alarms and call help when needed Keep a shift log Hand over to the next shift What families ask for Security or watchman experience Background check Ability to stay alert at night Security licence where required A typical day Typical day — Watchman An example day — real schedules are agreed with each family. Shift 1 Gate & visitor log · Perimeter patrol · CCTV check Shift 2 Night patrol · Handover report Related security jobs