Security Guard Salary in Houston, TX
Security Guards in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $35,460 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,672 take-home, or $2,556 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,075
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,672
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,670 | $13.30 | $24,396 | $2,033 |
| 25th percentile | $28,980 | $13.93 | $25,465 | $2,122 |
| Median (50th) | $35,460 | $17.05 | $30,672 | $2,556 |
| 75th percentile | $42,880 | $20.62 | $36,634 | $3,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,140 | $23.14 | $40,860 | $3,405 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,460 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,672 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,098 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #161 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 |
| 161 | Houston, TX | $35,460 | $30,672 | $31,098 |
*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 Texas
- Brownsville, TX — $33,740
- Tyler, TX — $36,170
- Beaumont, TX — $35,010
- Killeen, TX — $35,390
- Amarillo, TX — $35,520
- Lubbock, TX — $35,220
- Austin, TX — $37,920
- Waco, TX — $35,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Houston, TX?
The median security guard salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $35,460 a year, or about $17.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,980 and $42,880.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $35,460 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $30,672 a year ($2,556 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,098 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #161 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,740
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $86,390
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $81,710
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $74,570
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $62,590
- Firefighter — $59,120
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $53,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $46,490
- Private Detective and Investigator — $46,110
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $33,500
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $33,350
- School Bus Monitor — $29,660