In the wake of a recent deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, attention has turned to the vital yet often undervalued role of security guards protecting places of worship and other public spaces. The attack, which left three men dead including Amin Abdullah, the mosque's security guard, has underscored the high risks these workers face amid rising threats to religious communities across the United States.

Antonio Salguero, who runs the security company contracted by Congregation Beth Israel—the largest synagogue in San Diego—describes how the community’s safety preparations intensify during the Jewish High Holy Days. With thousands attending services, additional guards are deployed alongside enhanced communication protocols. The threat landscape has become more acute in recent years, and the May shooting at the mosque, where Mr. Abdullah confronted the gunmen before losing his life, brought the dangers sharply into focus. Authorities revealed that the attackers had also targeted a local synagogue.

The broader private security industry now employs about 1.3 million workers nationwide, exceeding the number of police and sheriff patrol officers. Despite their key role in public safety, many guards earn modest wages—around $19 per hour—which is below the typical U.S. worker’s earnings, and receive limited benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and recent studies underscore disproportionate challenges faced by these workers, who must often manage complex situations such as mental health crises and mass casualty events without the extensive training or resources available to law enforcement.

Training requirements for security guards vary widely across states, with no federal standard in place. Many unarmed guards receive only minimal instruction, and the industry is characterized by high turnover, attributed in part to compensation and working conditions. The workforce skews predominantly male, with significant representation of Black and Latino employees.

Labor organizations, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), have pushed for improved pay and protections. In New York City, reforms followed the 2025 shooting death of guard Aland Etienne, establishing minimum wage thresholds of $33.70 per hour for armed guards and $22.20 for unarmed personnel holding specific training certificates. Baltimore implemented similar measures earlier this year. SEIU President April Verrett emphasized that security work is among the nation’s most dangerous occupations, framing improved compensation as a matter of life and death.

California lawmakers responded to the San Diego mosque shooting by allocating $80 million in grants to faith-based organizations to enhance security infrastructure. However, efforts to set a statewide minimum wage for the state’s estimated 330,000 security guards faced opposition from business groups and were ultimately dropped. Matthew Hargrove of the California Business Properties Association stressed the need to keep private security services affordable to maintain protection for employees and customers alike.

In Los Angeles County and the Bay Area, roughly 14,000 security guards represented by SEIU-United Service Workers West recently authorized a strike amid contract negotiations with major firms such as Allied Universal and Securitas. The dispute has led some employers, including the AI company Anthropic, to ask staff to work remotely citing security concerns.

Gerald Walker, a security guard in downtown San Diego for over a decade, described the risks inherent in his job, from physical assaults to threatening encounters. Though unarmed and only minimally trained in de-escalation tactics, he frequently acts as a first responder and relies on local police support. He earns $21 an hour, which he says is insufficient to meet rising living costs, supplementing his income with personal training work.

Faith leaders at both the Islamic Center and Congregation Beth Israel acknowledge the necessity of security presence despite the tension it creates with their welcoming missions. Imam Taha Hassane recounted that Mr. Abdullah’s quick actions during the attack saved many lives, while Rabbi Cantor Jeremy Gimbel noted the reassurance congregants feel seeing security teams at synagogue entrances.

Since the attack, synagogue security in San Diego has tightened, with restricted access and increased vigilance to deter potential threats. Mr. Salguero reported a persistent atmosphere of caution following earlier incidents of antisemitic harassment and continued post-October 2023 threats linked to the conflict in Israel. As communities seek to balance openness and safety, the role of security guards remains critical, yet their demands for better compensation and training highlight ongoing debates over how best to protect vulnerable populations in a volatile environment.