Security Guard Salary in Columbia, MO
Security Guards in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median $36,950 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,070 take-home, or $2,589 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Columbia, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,254
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,291
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- Missouri income tax$799
- Take-home pay$31,070
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Columbia, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $32,460 | $15.61 | $27,673 | $2,306 |
| Median (50th) | $36,950 | $17.76 | $31,070 | $2,589 |
| 75th percentile | $45,470 | $21.86 | $37,515 | $3,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,520 | $23.81 | $40,579 | $3,382 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,950 buys in Columbia, MO
Prices in Columbia, MO are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,739 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 Columbia, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, MO ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Columbia, MO | $36,950 | $31,070 | $34,739 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $41,810
- St. Louis, MO — $42,600
- Springfield, MO — $39,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Columbia, MO?
The median security guard salary in the Columbia, MO metro area is $36,950 a year, or about $17.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,460 and $45,470.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Columbia, MO?
On the median $36,950 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $31,070 a year ($2,589 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $799 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, MO a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,739 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, MO ranks #45 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Columbia, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, MO is $978 a month ($1,138 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.