Security Guard Salary in Des Moines, IA
Security Guards in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $37,550 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,576 take-home, or $2,631 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,326
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,328
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- Iowa income tax$775
- Take-home pay$31,576
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,380 | $14.61 | $26,088 | $2,174 |
| 25th percentile | $34,340 | $16.51 | $29,119 | $2,427 |
| Median (50th) | $37,550 | $18.05 | $31,576 | $2,631 |
| 75th percentile | $46,740 | $22.47 | $38,611 | $3,218 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,730 | $35.45 | $58,549 | $4,879 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,550 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,576 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,434 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 Des Moines, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #50 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 |
| 50 | Des Moines, IA | $37,550 | $31,576 | $34,434 |
*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 Iowa
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $36,940
- Davenport, IA — $36,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Des Moines, IA?
The median security guard salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $37,550 a year, or about $18.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,340 and $46,740.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $37,550 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $31,576 a year ($2,631 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $775 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,434 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #50 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 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 Des Moines, IA
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $81,810
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $63,230
- Firefighter — $56,910