Security Guard Salary in Madison, WI
Security Guards in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $38,020 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,837 take-home, or $2,653 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,382
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,357
- Medicare (1.45%)$551
- Wisconsin income tax$892
- Take-home pay$31,837
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,670 | $14.26 | $25,494 | $2,125 |
| 25th percentile | $35,180 | $16.91 | $29,680 | $2,473 |
| Median (50th) | $38,020 | $18.28 | $31,837 | $2,653 |
| 75th percentile | $49,560 | $23.83 | $40,602 | $3,383 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,320 | $28.04 | $47,255 | $3,938 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,020 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,837 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,725 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 Madison, WI than nationally (location quotient 0.38), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #101 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 |
| 101 | Madison, WI | $38,020 | $31,837 | $32,725 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $40,130
- Oshkosh, WI — $36,330
- Appleton, WI — $36,040
- Milwaukee, WI — $37,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Madison, WI?
The median security guard salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $38,020 a year, or about $18.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,180 and $49,560.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $38,020 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $31,837 a year ($2,653 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $892 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,725 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #101 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 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 Madison, WI
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,580
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $76,250
- Firefighter — $56,430