Highest-paying states for security guards
District of Columbia leads at $64,210 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 | $45,510–$74,200 |
| Alaska | $47,480 | $44,370–$60,400 |
| Washington | $47,100 | $42,030–$56,990 |
| Vermont | $45,550 | $38,560–$61,730 |
| Oregon | $45,500 | $39,680–$48,420 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 | $38,000–$55,360 |
| Colorado | $45,150 | $37,920–$47,580 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 | $37,720–$45,760 |
| New York | $44,240 | $37,210–$51,850 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | $35,990–$54,850 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 | $37,020–$46,110 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 | $35,570–$53,530 |
| California | $43,240 | $37,180–$46,760 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 | $37,140–$46,160 |
| Utah | $42,700 | $36,410–$45,640 |
| Missouri | $40,390 | $36,040–$48,020 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 | $36,100–$47,510 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 | $37,150–$47,400 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | $37,060–$46,360 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 | $34,960–$45,550 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 | $35,530–$48,010 |
| Maine | $39,100 | $34,760–$45,360 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | $34,770–$48,120 |
| Montana | $38,480 | $35,260–$46,300 |
| Idaho | $38,300 | $34,430–$45,930 |
| Arizona | $38,290 | $35,670–$44,010 |
| Maryland | $38,220 | $35,700–$46,750 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 | $35,030–$46,210 |
| Nevada | $37,310 | $34,610–$44,600 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 | $32,190–$45,190 |
| Iowa | $37,080 | $34,480–$45,590 |
| Kansas | $37,080 | $31,930–$44,880 |
| Michigan | $37,080 | $34,230–$46,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $34,570–$44,300 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $34,370–$44,510 |
| Indiana | $36,490 | $31,240–$44,440 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $36,000–$44,450 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 | $30,980–$44,670 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | $30,850–$40,620 |
| Texas | $35,980 | $29,290–$43,630 |
| Florida | $35,900 | $32,340–$39,510 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 | $29,750–$41,210 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | $31,140–$44,500 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | $30,130–$38,220 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 | $31,440–$40,370 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 | $30,640–$43,610 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | $30,920–$39,060 |
| Alabama | $33,720 | $28,060–$37,420 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 | $29,430–$38,310 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 | $26,940–$35,430 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 | $20,800–$35,990 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.