Security Guard Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Security Guards in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $36,500 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,799 take-home, or $2,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,263
- Medicare (1.45%)$529
- Louisiana income tax$709
- Take-home pay$30,799
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,050 | $13.97 | $25,036 | $2,086 |
| 25th percentile | $30,270 | $14.55 | $25,980 | $2,165 |
| Median (50th) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $30,799 | $2,567 |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | $39,338 | $3,278 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,150 | $27.00 | $45,998 | $3,833 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,500 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,799 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,927 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 about as common in Baton Rouge, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Baton Rouge, LA | $36,500 | $30,799 | $33,927 |
*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 Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $30,720
- Lake Charles, LA — $29,740
- New Orleans, LA — $32,240
- Lafayette, LA — $30,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median security guard salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $36,500 a year, or about $17.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,270 and $47,540.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $36,500 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $30,799 a year ($2,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $709 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,927 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #63 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $74,450
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $62,100
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $48,710
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $44,920
- Firefighter — $33,260