Security Guard Salary in Duluth, MN
Security Guards in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median $37,520 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,139 take-home, or $2,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Duluth, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,322
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,326
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- Minnesota income tax$1,189
- Take-home pay$31,139
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
The Duluth, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Security Guard pay by experience in Duluth, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,640 | $14.25 | $25,229 | $2,102 |
| 25th percentile | $33,450 | $16.08 | $28,086 | $2,341 |
| Median (50th) | $37,520 | $18.04 | $31,139 | $2,595 |
| 75th percentile | $42,760 | $20.56 | $35,069 | $2,922 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,580 | $24.32 | $40,905 | $3,409 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,520 buys in Duluth, MN
Prices in Duluth, MN are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,139 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,079 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 Duluth, MN than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Duluth, MN ranks #37 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 |
| 37 | Duluth, MN | $37,520 | $31,139 | $35,079 |
*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 Minnesota
- Rochester, MN — $47,790
- Minneapolis, MN — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Duluth, MN?
The median security guard salary in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $37,520 a year, or about $18.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,450 and $42,760.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Duluth, MN?
On the median $37,520 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $31,139 a year ($2,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,189 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Duluth, MN a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,079 would in a typical U.S. city. Duluth, MN ranks #37 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Duluth, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Duluth, MN is $978 a month ($1,232 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Duluth, MN
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $76,220
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $61,390