Security Guard Salary in Albany, NY
Security Guards in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median $43,250 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,193 take-home, or $2,933 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Albany, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,010
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,682
- Medicare (1.45%)$627
- New York income tax$1,739
- Take-home pay$35,193
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Albany, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,290 | $16.97 | $29,227 | $2,436 |
| 25th percentile | $37,230 | $17.90 | $30,681 | $2,557 |
| Median (50th) | $43,250 | $20.79 | $35,193 | $2,933 |
| 75th percentile | $51,010 | $24.52 | $41,009 | $3,417 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,140 | $28.43 | $47,102 | $3,925 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,250 buys in Albany, NY
Prices in Albany, NY are 0.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,193 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,346 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Security Guard jobs are less concentrated in Albany, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Albany, NY ranks #34 of 224 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | $61,120 | $64,737 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $54,670 | $46,107 | $46,071 |
| 3 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | $39,906 | $44,656 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | $38,841 | $42,767 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 6 | Utica, NY | $44,420 | $36,070 | $38,919 |
| 7 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | $35,478 | $38,572 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 34 | Albany, NY | $43,250 | $35,193 | $35,346 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 224 metros →
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in New York
- Utica, NY — $44,420
- Syracuse, NY — $45,050
- Binghamton, NY — $42,070
- Rochester, NY — $42,860
- Buffalo, NY — $38,420
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $42,910
- New York, NY — $43,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Albany, NY?
The median security guard salary in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $43,250 a year, or about $20.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,230 and $51,010.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Albany, NY?
On the median $43,250 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $35,193 a year ($2,933 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,739 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Albany, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 0.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Albany, NY ranks #34 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Albany, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albany, NY is $1,417 a month ($1,702 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Albany, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $118,150
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $99,010
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,240
- Firefighter — $70,840
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $59,970
- School Bus Monitor — $34,780
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,240