CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for security systems services in St. Louis, MO-IL
Security systems services in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area: 43 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 21-person team.
- Establishments
- 43CBP 2023
- Employees
- 894mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.5U.S. 2.1
- Rank
- 34th of 298areas by count
The security systems company market in St. Louis, MO-IL
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 43 establishments classified as Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (NAICS 561621) in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area. Together they reported 894 mid-March employees and $72.2 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 34th of the 298 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 2.8 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 1.5 security systems services per 100,000 people, 27.3% below the national rate of 2.1. Establishments average 20.8 employees, 15.7% above the U.S. average of 18.0. Payroll per employee comes to $80,768, 15.3% above the national $70,074.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO-IL | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 43 | 110 | 7,151 |
| Mid-March employees | 894 (moderate noise) | 5,587 (moderate noise) | 128,462 |
| Annual payroll | $72,207,000 (moderate noise) | $328,949,000 (moderate noise) | $9,001,839,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 20.8 | 50.8 | 18.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $80,768 | $58,878 | $70,074 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big security systems services in St. Louis, MO-IL are
Of the security systems services in St. Louis, MO-IL that had employees in March 2023, 45.2% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 48.4%). 66.7% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 19 | 45.2% | 48.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 21.4% | 19.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 9.5% | 11.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 3 | 7.1% | 7.3% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a security systems company in St. Louis, MO-IL has to catch
Security companies take calls about new installations, alarms and service problems. Existing customers expect quick help when a system misbehaves.
Calls a security systems company in St. Louis, MO-IL might handle in a typical week include:
- A builder calls about pre-wiring.
- The company calls a customer to schedule service.
- A business calls about a faulty alarm panel.
When nobody can pick up
Alarm problems at night need clear after-hours routing.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a security systems company in St. Louis, MO-IL
The average security systems company in St. Louis, MO-IL has 20.8 employees, so a 21-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 21 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $630.00 a month and 21 on Ooma Office Pro cost $523.95. On Callata the same 21 people cost $419.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,532. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $419.00 | $5,028.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $483.00 | $5,796.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $523.95 | $6,287.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $567.00 | $6,804.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $630.00 | $7,560.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in St. Louis, MO-IL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 314 has the most, with 723 of 1,483 exchanges (49%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 723 | Central | 1947 | 557 |
| 618 | 324 | Central | 1947 | 730 |
| 636 | 308 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 557 | 71 | Central | 2022 | 314 |
| 730 | 30 | Central | 2023 | 618 |
| 217 | 14 | Central | 1947 | 447 |
| 573 | 11 | Central | 1996 | 235 |
| 447 | 2 | Central | 2021 | 217 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What security systems services in St. Louis, MO-IL get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in St. Louis, MO-IL, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many security systems services are there in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 43 security systems services in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area in 2023. They employed 894 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 21-person security systems company?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 21 users cost $630.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $523.95 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $419.00.
What area code should a security systems company in St. Louis, MO-IL use?
Area code 314 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 618 and 636. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a security systems company?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.