Security Guards salary
The median pay for security guards in the United States is $38,020 a year. About 1,283,470 people hold this job.
- 10th percentile
- $30,210
- 25th percentile
- $35,210
- Median percentile
- $38,020
- 75th percentile
- $46,200
- 90th percentile
- $58,840
Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience. BLS does not report experience, so reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only a rough guide. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.
How to become: education, skills and job outlook
Highest-paying states · Highest-paying cities
By state
- District of Columbia $64,210
- Alaska $47,480
- Washington $47,100
- Vermont $45,550
- Oregon $45,500
- New Hampshire $45,200
- Colorado $45,150
- Massachusetts $44,670
- New York $44,240
- Virginia $43,640
- Minnesota $43,380
- New Mexico $43,320
- California $43,240
- Hawaii $42,820
- Utah $42,700
- Missouri $40,390
- Connecticut $39,920
- Nebraska $39,840
- Illinois $39,490
- North Dakota $39,310
- Wyoming $39,200
- Maine $39,100
- New Jersey $38,880
- Montana $38,480
- Idaho $38,300
- Arizona $38,290
- Maryland $38,220
- Wisconsin $37,440
- Nevada $37,310
- South Dakota $37,150
- Iowa $37,080
- Kansas $37,080
- Michigan $37,080
- Pennsylvania $37,050
- Rhode Island $36,940
- Indiana $36,490
- Delaware $36,360
- Oklahoma $36,270
- Tennessee $36,000
- Texas $35,980
- Florida $35,900
- Arkansas $35,770
- Ohio $35,770
- South Carolina $35,460
- Kentucky $35,420
- North Carolina $35,010
- Georgia $34,980
- Alabama $33,720
- Louisiana $32,240
- Mississippi $29,180
- West Virginia $28,800
By metro area
- Idaho Falls, ID $78,680
- Fairbanks, AK $60,400
- Kennewick, WA $54,670
- Burlington, VT $51,170
- Ithaca, NY $49,540
- Lynchburg, VA $49,480
- Hinesville, GA $48,780
- Walla Walla, WA $48,770
- Kahului, HI $48,690
- Rochester, MN $47,790
- Seattle, WA $47,490
- Napa, CA $47,240
- Washington, DC $46,830
- Portland, OR $46,820
- Anchorage, AK $46,720
- Boulder, CO $46,450
- San Jose, CA $46,250
- Salem, OR $46,150
- Mount Vernon, WA $46,090
- Corvallis, OR $45,980
- San Francisco, CA $45,730
- Bremerton, WA $45,540
- Denver, CO $45,420
- Longview, WA $45,370
- Racine, WI $45,270
- Barnstable Town, MA $45,230
- Santa Rosa, CA $45,160
- New Haven, CT $45,060
- Syracuse, NY $45,050
- Boston, MA $44,990
- Lexington Park, MD $44,880
- Kingston, NY $44,790
- Albuquerque, NM $44,780
- Manchester, NH $44,520
- Jefferson City, MO $44,430
- Utica, NY $44,420
- Bridgeport, CT $44,390
- Bellingham, WA $44,310
- Medford, OR $44,250
- Kokomo, IN $44,080
- Albany, OR $44,050
- New York, NY $43,980
- Olympia, WA $43,920
- Pittsfield, MA $43,860
- Bend, OR $43,790
- Carson City, NV $43,640
- Santa Cruz, CA $43,610
- Minneapolis, MN $43,430
- Cheyenne, WY $43,370
- Lewiston, ME $43,340
- Fort Collins, CO $43,320
- Salt Lake City, UT $43,260
- Albany, NY $43,250
- Casper, WY $43,250
- Santa Maria, CA $43,250
- San Luis Obispo, CA $42,980
- Fayetteville, NC $42,940
- Kiryas Joel, NY $42,910
- Rochester, NY $42,860
- Vallejo, CA $42,800
- Watertown, NY $42,680
- Colorado Springs, CO $42,670
- St. Louis, MO $42,600
- Urban Honolulu, HI $42,580
- Omaha, NE $42,370
- Redding, CA $42,330
- Springfield, IL $42,240
- Charlottesville, VA $42,170
- Chambersburg, PA $42,130
- Ann Arbor, MI $42,100
- Binghamton, NY $42,070
- Great Falls, MT $41,950
- St. George, UT $41,950
- Staunton, VA $41,950
- Kansas City, MO $41,810
- Grand Forks, ND $41,750
- Bozeman, MT $41,420
- Spokane, WA $41,310
- Decatur, IL $41,220
- Santa Fe, NM $40,980
- Oxnard, CA $40,960
- Midland, MI $40,880
- Janesville, WI $40,870
- Wenatchee, WA $40,860
- Grand Rapids, MI $40,810
- Saginaw, MI $40,730
- Provo, UT $40,690
- Pueblo, CO $40,360
- Springfield, MA $40,340
- Vineland, NJ $40,260
- Elmira, NY $40,130
- Green Bay, WI $40,130
- Traverse City, MI $40,060
- Los Angeles, CA $40,030
- Sheboygan, WI $40,010
- Chicago, IL $39,990
- Atlantic City, NJ $39,900
- Mankato, MN $39,760
- Eugene, OR $39,750
- Manhattan, KS $39,730
- Logan, UT $39,600
- Iowa City, IA $39,540
- Gettysburg, PA $39,500
- Sacramento, CA $39,460
- Naples, FL $39,450
- Minot, ND $39,430
- Reno, NV $39,370
- Portland, ME $39,190
- St. Joseph, MO $39,180
- Florence, SC $39,060
- Hartford, CT $39,060
- Springfield, MO $39,010
- Modesto, CA $38,990
- Reading, PA $38,960
- Glens Falls, NY $38,920
- Coeur d'Alene, ID $38,870
- Grand Island, NE $38,850
- Jackson, MI $38,750
- Waterbury, CT $38,720
- Salinas, CA $38,700