Security Guard Salary in Olympia, WA
Security Guards in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $43,920 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,470 take-home, or $3,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Olympia, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,090
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,723
- Medicare (1.45%)$637
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,470
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,340 | $17.47 | $31,379 | $2,615 |
| 25th percentile | $38,220 | $18.38 | $32,890 | $2,741 |
| Median (50th) | $43,920 | $21.12 | $37,470 | $3,122 |
| 75th percentile | $54,820 | $26.36 | $46,228 | $3,852 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,900 | $32.64 | $56,598 | $4,716 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,920 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $37,470 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,143 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 Olympia, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Olympia, WA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Olympia, WA | $43,920 | $37,470 | $36,143 |
*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 Washington
- Kennewick, WA — $54,670
- Bremerton, WA — $45,540
- Seattle, WA — $47,490
- Spokane, WA — $41,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Olympia, WA?
The median security guard salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $43,920 a year, or about $21.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,220 and $54,820.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $43,920 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $37,470 a year ($3,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,143 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #23 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.