The minimum pay in Glasgow
The legal minimum is the same everywhere in the UK. Your average hourly pay in each pay period must be at least:
- Aged 21 and over (National Living Wage): £12.71 an hour
- Aged 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- Aged 16 to 17: £8.00 an hour
- Apprentices (under 19, or in the first year of an apprenticeship): £8.00 an hour
These are the legal minimum rates from April 2026. Some employers and contracts are accredited by the Living Wage Foundation and pay the voluntary Real Living Wage instead: £13.45 an hour across the UK and £14.80 in London (2025/26 rates — new rates are announced each autumn).
Where the security work is in Glasgow
Glasgow's security work includes city-centre retail on Buchanan Street, offices, hospitals, universities and the night-time economy. The OVO Hydro, SEC, Hampden Park, Celtic Park and Ibrox bring a steady supply of event shifts.
Rates vary a lot by sector. Event and night shifts, construction sites and specialist roles often pay more than daytime static guarding, and contracts for corporate clients are more likely to follow the Real Living Wage.
Tax in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, you pay Scottish income tax, which has more bands than the rest of the UK (starter 19%, basic 20% and intermediate 21%, then higher rates). That means your take-home pay can be slightly different from someone earning the same in England, even though the minimum wage is the same.
What changes your take-home pay
- Unpaid breaks: on a 12-hour shift, a 30 or 60-minute unpaid break makes a real difference. Check whether your breaks are paid.
- Travel between sites: time spent travelling between sites during your working day counts as working time for minimum wage purposes. Your commute to the first site doesn't.
- Nights, weekends and bank holidays: there's no legal right to a higher rate, so it depends entirely on your contract.
- Two jobs: your second job is often taxed at a flat 20% with no personal allowance (tax code BR).
- Holiday pay: on irregular hours, holiday builds up at 12.07% of the hours you work.
Check your pay in a minute
Use the shift pay calculator to work out what a shift should pay, or the take-home pay calculator if you have two jobs. Shiftaan keeps every shift, rate and payment in one place, so you can check each payslip in seconds. Try it free.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage for a security guard in Glasgow?
£12.71 an hour if you're 21 or over, from April 2026. Living Wage accredited employers pay at least £13.45.
Do security guards get paid more for night shifts?
Only if your contract says so. There's no legal night-shift premium in the UK, but many contracts pay one, so check yours.
Do I need an SIA licence to work in security in Glasgow?
Yes, for most front-line security roles anywhere in the UK, including guarding, door supervision and public-space CCTV. Event stewards who don't carry out security activities may not need one.