Security Guard Salary in Fort Collins, CO
Security Guards in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area earn a median $43,320 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,790 take-home, or $2,982 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Fort Collins, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,018
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,686
- Medicare (1.45%)$628
- Colorado income tax$1,198
- Take-home pay$35,790
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Fort Collins, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,160 | $17.38 | $30,352 | $2,529 |
| 25th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 | $31,073 | $2,589 |
| Median (50th) | $43,320 | $20.83 | $35,790 | $2,982 |
| 75th percentile | $46,710 | $22.46 | $38,365 | $3,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,370 | $24.22 | $41,144 | $3,429 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,320 buys in Fort Collins, CO
Prices in Fort Collins, CO are 1.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,790 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,391 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 Fort Collins, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Collins, CO ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Fort Collins, CO | $43,320 | $35,790 | $35,391 |
*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
- Denver, CO — $45,420
- Colorado Springs, CO — $42,670
- Greeley, CO — $37,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Fort Collins, CO?
The median security guard salary in the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area is $43,320 a year, or about $20.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,110 and $46,710.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Fort Collins, CO?
On the median $43,320 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $35,790 a year ($2,982 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,198 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Collins, CO a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 1.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,391 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Collins, CO ranks #33 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Collins, CO is $1,537 a month ($1,732 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fort Collins, CO
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $96,740