Security Guard Salary in Boston, MA
Security Guards in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $44,990 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,300 take-home, or $3,025 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,219
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,789
- Medicare (1.45%)$652
- Massachusetts income tax$2,030
- Take-home pay$36,300
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Security Guard pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,780 | $17.20 | $29,360 | $2,447 |
| 25th percentile | $38,860 | $18.68 | $31,681 | $2,640 |
| Median (50th) | $44,990 | $21.63 | $36,300 | $3,025 |
| 75th percentile | $46,420 | $22.32 | $37,377 | $3,115 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,450 | $27.14 | $44,935 | $3,745 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,990 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $36,300 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,528 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #72 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 |
| 72 | Boston, MA | $44,990 | $36,300 | $33,528 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $40,340
- Worcester, MA — $38,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Boston, MA?
The median security guard salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $44,990 a year, or about $21.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,860 and $46,420.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $44,990 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $36,300 a year ($3,025 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,030 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #72 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $110,150
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,060
- Bailiff — $79,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,180
- Transportation Security Screener — $76,130
- Firefighter — $73,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $57,890
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $44,840
- School Bus Monitor — $38,470
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $37,180