Paycheck Atlas

Security Guards salary in Washington, DC

The median security guards in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV earns $46,830 a year, 23% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,986 a month.

10th percentile
$36,530
25th percentile
$38,660
Median percentile
$46,830
75th percentile
$71,030
90th percentile
$78,790

Based on 40,950 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$35,827 take-home a year
Gross pay$46,830
Federal income tax−$3,440
Social Security + Medicare−$3,582
District of Columbia income tax (approx.)−$3,981
Monthly take-home$2,986
Every two weeks$1,378

Does it go far here?

$43,009Median pay in Washington, DC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 108.9 vs 100).
68%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,027 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Washington, DC

JobMedian pay
Psychiatrists$246,990
Emergency Medicine Physicians$239,200
Family Medicine Physicians$225,140
General Internal Medicine Physicians$223,250
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$209,750
Physicians, All Other$208,710
Public Relations Managers$195,190
Computer and Information Systems Managers$195,190

All security guards salaries · Take-home pay in District of Columbia