Security Guard Salary in Las Cruces, NM
Security Guards in the Las Cruces, NM metro area earn a median $37,010 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,293 take-home, or $2,608 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Las Cruces, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,261
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- New Mexico income tax$624
- Take-home pay$31,293
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.30% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Las Cruces, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,610 | $12.79 | $23,281 | $1,940 |
| 25th percentile | $30,860 | $14.84 | $26,597 | $2,216 |
| Median (50th) | $37,010 | $17.79 | $31,293 | $2,608 |
| 75th percentile | $47,680 | $22.92 | $39,408 | $3,284 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,240 | $29.44 | $49,674 | $4,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,010 buys in Las Cruces, NM
Prices in Las Cruces, NM are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 37% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,293 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,689 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 Las Cruces, NM as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Las Cruces, NM ranks #47 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 |
| 47 | Las Cruces, NM | $37,010 | $31,293 | $34,689 |
*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 New Mexico
- Albuquerque, NM — $44,780
- Farmington, NM — $36,820
- Santa Fe, NM — $40,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Las Cruces, NM?
The median security guard salary in the Las Cruces, NM metro area is $37,010 a year, or about $17.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,860 and $47,680.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Las Cruces, NM?
On the median $37,010 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $31,293 a year ($2,608 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $624 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Las Cruces, NM a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,689 would in a typical U.S. city. Las Cruces, NM ranks #47 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Las Cruces, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Las Cruces, NM is $951 a month ($1,042 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Las Cruces, NM
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $106,330