Security Guard Salary in Denver, CO
Security Guards in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $45,420 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,385 take-home, or $3,115 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,270
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,816
- Medicare (1.45%)$659
- Colorado income tax$1,290
- Take-home pay$37,385
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,780 | $17.68 | $30,823 | $2,569 |
| 25th percentile | $38,960 | $18.73 | $32,479 | $2,707 |
| Median (50th) | $45,420 | $21.84 | $37,385 | $3,115 |
| 75th percentile | $47,560 | $22.87 | $39,010 | $3,251 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,330 | $27.56 | $46,431 | $3,869 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,420 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $37,385 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,341 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Denver, CO | $45,420 | $37,385 | $35,341 |
*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 Colorado
- Pueblo, CO — $40,360
- Boulder, CO — $46,450
- Fort Collins, CO — $43,320
- Colorado Springs, CO — $42,670
- Greeley, CO — $37,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Denver, CO?
The median security guard salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $45,420 a year, or about $21.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,960 and $47,560.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $45,420 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $37,385 a year ($3,115 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,290 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,341 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #35 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $127,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $119,500
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $113,340
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $101,970
- Firefighter — $87,980
- Transportation Security Screener — $71,530
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $65,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $56,200
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $43,720
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $36,620
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,620