$ PaycheckDecoded

Security Guard Salary

Security Guards earn a median $38,020 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations

U.S. median
$38,020
$18.28 per hour
Range
$30,210 – $58,840
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,283,470
across the U.S.

Security Guard take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Security Guard
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$32,729
per year · effective tax rate 13.9%
$2,727Monthly
$1,364Twice a month
$1,259Every 2 weeks
$15.74Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,382
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,357
  • Medicare (1.45%)$551
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$32,729

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$30,210$14.52$26,454
25th percentile$35,210$16.93$30,471
Median (50th)$38,020$18.28$32,729
75th percentile$46,200$22.21$39,302
90th percentile (top earners)$58,840$28.29$49,458

Best cities for security guards (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Idaho Falls, ID$78,680$61,120$64,737570
2Kennewick, WA$54,670$46,107$46,071500
3Lynchburg, VA$49,480$39,906$44,656570
4Rochester, MN$47,790$38,841$42,767520
5Albuquerque, NM$44,780$37,202$38,9374,440
6Utica, NY$44,420$36,070$38,919950
7Fayetteville, NC$42,940$35,478$38,572710
8Omaha, NE$42,370$35,176$38,2723,170
9Syracuse, NY$45,050$36,542$38,1671,770
10Anchorage, AK$46,720$39,720$37,6771,090
11Kansas City, MO$41,810$34,747$37,5467,730
12Florence, SC$39,060$32,378$37,313610
13St. Louis, MO$42,600$35,344$37,1709,720
14Binghamton, NY$42,070$34,308$36,945640
15Springfield, IL$42,240$34,174$36,847680
16Springfield, MO$39,010$32,628$36,8331,000
17Bremerton, WA$45,540$38,771$36,713590
18Pueblo, CO$40,360$33,542$36,553490
19Jackson, TN$35,960$31,074$36,334460
20Seattle, WA$47,490$40,338$36,29717,030
21Boulder, CO$46,450$38,167$36,280480
22Kingsport, TN$36,270$31,323$36,234500
23Olympia, WA$43,920$37,470$36,143840
24Decatur, AL$38,500$31,455$36,067450
25Rochester, NY$42,860$34,901$35,9673,300

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Security Guard salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $64,210$51,046 $36,600 – $78,91015,880
Alaska $47,480$40,330 $36,520 – $76,3502,100
Washington $47,100$40,025 $37,720 – $68,39025,800
Vermont $45,550$37,687 $36,040 – $72,620930
Oregon $45,500$35,588 $36,500 – $58,51012,200
New Hampshire $45,200$38,498 $36,500 – $62,4002,450
Colorado $45,150$37,180 $36,160 – $57,36016,890
Massachusetts $44,670$36,059 $34,830 – $55,80023,930
New York $44,240$35,935 $35,650 – $60,580134,700
Virginia $43,640$35,550 $30,990 – $73,06034,870
Minnesota $43,380$35,534 $33,760 – $65,09014,440
New Mexico $43,320$36,092 $30,220 – $64,8408,410
California $43,240$35,642 $36,010 – $57,880199,480
Hawaii $42,820$34,819 $35,140 – $58,84010,160
Utah $42,700$35,534 $31,270 – $56,6207,310
Missouri $40,390$33,672 $31,040 – $68,86018,630
Connecticut $39,920$33,384 $34,950 – $59,22012,100
Nebraska $39,840$33,258 $34,020 – $70,3104,700
Illinois $39,490$32,100 $35,520 – $63,95053,830
North Dakota $39,310$33,766 $31,150 – $64,3901,310
Wyoming $39,200$33,677 $30,350 – $67,6801,130
Maine $39,100$32,121 $31,470 – $51,5301,930
New Jersey $38,880$32,777 $32,230 – $60,42041,540
Montana $38,480$32,047 $28,800 – $57,3101,610
Idaho $38,300$32,032 $32,030 – $78,6803,750
Arizona $38,290$32,198 $31,910 – $52,45029,820
Maryland $38,220$31,438 $33,700 – $64,32027,670
Wisconsin $37,440$31,397 $30,410 – $54,68012,030
Nevada $37,310$32,159 $29,140 – $48,34026,680
South Dakota $37,150$32,030 $30,060 – $59,8401,460
Iowa $37,080$31,217 $30,350 – $59,2906,890
Kansas $37,080$30,704 $29,590 – $51,8907,150
Michigan $37,080$30,649 $29,790 – $54,77025,240
Pennsylvania $37,050$30,812 $30,050 – $54,83043,610
Rhode Island $36,940$31,093 $31,200 – $48,5203,160
Indiana $36,490$30,453 $29,850 – $59,99019,930
Delaware $36,360$30,054 $32,450 – $73,3903,430
Oklahoma $36,270$30,236 $26,940 – $56,08012,210
Tennessee $36,000$31,106 $29,310 – $51,68027,690
Texas $35,980$31,090 $26,950 – $50,740106,210
Florida $35,900$31,026 $29,470 – $46,09095,370
Arkansas $35,770$29,739 $28,870 – $57,4106,390
Ohio $35,770$30,720 $29,030 – $55,44034,450
South Carolina $35,460$29,702 $27,420 – $48,85016,610
Kentucky $35,420$29,518 $28,450 – $50,80013,580
North Carolina $35,010$29,422 $29,260 – $56,02029,830
Georgia $34,980$29,094 $29,060 – $48,59036,210
Alabama $33,720$27,853 $23,110 – $45,64015,210
Louisiana $32,240$27,504 $23,660 – $49,04017,210
Mississippi $29,180$25,191 $21,690 – $42,58010,160
West Virginia $28,800$24,595 $20,800 – $47,3705,200

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make?

The national median salary for security guards is $38,020 a year ($18.28 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,210 and the top 10% earn over $58,840. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays security guards the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $64,210. After taxes and local prices, Idaho Falls, ID offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many security guards are there in the U.S.?

About 1,283,470 people work as security guards nationwide.

All 224 cities