Security Guard Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Security Guards in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $37,450 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,121 take-home, or $2,593 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,314
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,322
- Medicare (1.45%)$543
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,150
- Take-home pay$31,121
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,401 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,721 ($2,477 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Security Guard pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,330 | $15.06 | $26,392 | $2,199 |
| 25th percentile | $35,990 | $17.30 | $29,993 | $2,499 |
| Median (50th) | $37,450 | $18.00 | $31,121 | $2,593 |
| 75th percentile | $45,640 | $21.94 | $37,451 | $3,121 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,970 | $27.87 | $46,979 | $3,915 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,450 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,121 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,346 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #62 of 77 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 2 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,810 | $34,747 | $37,546 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,600 | $35,344 | $37,170 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $47,490 | $40,338 | $36,297 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $42,860 | $34,901 | $35,967 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,260 | $35,959 | $35,649 |
| 8 | Albany, NY | $43,250 | $35,193 | $35,346 |
| 62 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,450 | $31,121 | $30,346 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 77 metros →
About the job: security guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.9% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,850
- Allentown, PA — $36,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median security guard salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $37,450 a year, or about $18.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,990 and $45,640.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $37,450 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $31,121 a year ($2,593 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,150 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #62 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $119,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $89,580
- Firefighter — $78,050
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $67,200
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,350
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $35,060
- School Bus Monitor — $34,620
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,220