Security · 🇺🇸 United States

Watchman Jobs in Boston, MA

$17–$26 an hour · Night shifts

Quick answer

Watchman jobs in Boston, MA typically pay $17–$26 an hour (about $2,950–$4,500 a month full time). Both live-in and live-out positions are offered, with a usual schedule of night shifts. Employers ask for security or watchman experience and a criminal background check. Register with AvailJob to be matched with families hiring in Boston.

Typical pay
$17–$26
per hour
Full-time monthly
$2,950–$4,500
about 40 hours a week
Live-in
Sometimes
accommodation provided
Schedule
Night shifts
Open now
0
register to be matched

Open watchman positions in Boston

No open position is listed for Boston today. New watchman jobs are added as families hire. Register once and we will match you to the next opening near you.

Register as a Watchman

About watchman jobs in Boston

A watchman keeps watch over a residence, mostly at night, and responds to alarms and visitors. In Boston, MA, these roles are offered by private households across Greater Boston Area, from busy professional couples to large multi-generation homes.

Boston is known for biotech, life sciences, education, and financial services, and many of the families who hire domestic staff here work for employers such as Biogen, Fidelity Investments, State Street, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Mass General. Greater Boston has the highest concentration of Nobel Prize winners and biotech companies per capita in the world.

Main duties

  • 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

Watchman pay in Boston

Household incomes in Boston are shaped by an average local salary of around $82,000, which is why watchman pay here sits above the USA average. Pay rises with experience, references, live-in flexibility and extra duties such as driving or cooking.

Household roles in BostonTypical pay ranges, per hour. Watchman highlighted.
Watchman$17–$26
Family Chef$30–$48
Watchman pay across USATypical ranges in the largest cities, per hour.
New York City$18–$27
Los Angeles$16–$25
Chicago$16–$24
Houston$15–$23
Dallas$16–$23
Miami$15–$23

Indicative ranges for 2026 based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.

A day as a watchman

Typical day — WatchmanAn example day — real schedules are agreed with each family.
  1. Shift 1Gate & visitor log
  2. ·Perimeter patrol
  3. ·CCTV check
  4. Shift 2Night patrol
  5. ·Handover report

Why work in Boston?

The local job market is growing at 3.3% annually, so demand for reliable household staff keeps rising as more dual-income families move to Boston.

Boston is often described as “Biotech Capital of the East Coast”, and its households expect a professional standard of service.

Requirements

What families ask for

  • Security or watchman experience
  • Background check
  • Ability to stay alert at night
  • Security licence where required

Working in United States

  • Right to work in United States: Workers must be authorised to work in the United States, and employers complete Form I-9 to verify eligibility.
  • Checks: employers usually ask for a criminal background check, identity and Social Security verification, a motor-vehicle record for driving roles and, for childcare, a sex-offender registry search.
  • Minimum pay: wages must meet the federal minimum wage or the higher state and city minimum, whichever applies.
  • Contract: A written work agreement covering duties, hours, pay, overtime, paid time off, termination notice and confidentiality prevents most disputes.

Live-in or live-out?

Most watchman roles in Boston are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days. Ask whether travel time between homes, evenings or weekends are paid at a higher rate.

How to get hired

  1. Register

    Create your profile with your watchman experience, availability and references.

  2. Verification

    Complete USA right-to-work and background checks.

  3. Interview & trial

    Meet the family and work a short, paid trial day.

  4. Contract & start

    Agree pay, hours and leave in writing before you start.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a watchman earn in Boston, MA?

Watchman jobs in Boston, MA typically pay $17–$26 an hour (about $2,950–$4,500 a month full time). Experience, live-in arrangements, hours and extra duties move pay within this range.

Are there live-in watchman jobs in Boston?

Both live-in and live-out positions are offered. Most watchman roles in Boston are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days.

What do I need to work as a watchman in USA?

Employers ask for security or watchman experience, background check and a criminal background check. You must also have the right to work in United States.

What does a watchman do day to day?

A watchman keeps watch over a residence, mostly at night, and responds to alarms and visitors. Typical duties include watch the property during the shift, check doors, windows and gates, respond to alarms and call help when needed.

How do I apply for watchman jobs in Boston on AvailJob?

Register your profile with your experience, availability and references. When a family in Boston hires for this role, you are matched and contacted.

What hours does a watchman work?

A typical schedule is night shifts. Hours, days off and overtime should be written into your contract.