Security Guard Salary in Buffalo, NY
Security Guards in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $38,420 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,573 take-home, or $2,631 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,430
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,382
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- New York income tax$1,478
- Take-home pay$31,573
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $36,100 | $17.36 | $29,834 | $2,486 |
| Median (50th) | $38,420 | $18.47 | $31,573 | $2,631 |
| 75th percentile | $49,400 | $23.75 | $39,802 | $3,317 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,250 | $28.97 | $47,934 | $3,995 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,420 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,573 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,942 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 Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #88 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 |
| 88 | Buffalo, NY | $38,420 | $31,573 | $32,942 |
*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
- Albany, NY — $43,250
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $42,910
- New York, NY — $43,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Buffalo, NY?
The median security guard salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $38,420 a year, or about $18.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,100 and $49,400.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $38,420 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,573 a year ($2,631 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,478 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,942 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #88 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $103,330
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $95,150
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,950
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $76,170
- Firefighter — $74,470
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $35,010
- School Bus Monitor — $34,460