Some one asked about Private Security salaries in Iraq sometime ago. I am cleaning up my notes and thought I would share this trivia from a conference last spring. This is what one security company gave me (if you want attribution, ask me):
Manager — $180,000 to $250,000.
UK Special forces vet: $630 to $810 daily.
UK Green vet: $405 to $550 daily
TCN (ie, Latin American or non-Euro types) $175 daily
Ghurka $30 daily
Iraqi Guard $12 daily
Other expenses:
Armor vehicle $120,000
Personal Protection Gear $1,500
Green Zone Villa $300,000 a year
Baghdad Hotel $80,000
Typical Corporate Security Operation:
50 expats, (ie, white Euro types)
40 Iraqis and TCNs
Apparently, there were about 80 to 100 private security companies operating in Iraq last year. Thirty-eight were registered. The rest either had better things to do or ignored the edict. As one would-be private operator told me: “We’re fighting a fucking war over here. What’s with all these regulations?” …. ah, ok.
If you registered you had to post a $25,000 bond for each shooter, abide by a code of conduct and carry an operating license.