Security Guard Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Security Guards in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $38,290 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,198 take-home, or $2,683 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,415
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,374
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- Arizona income tax$749
- Take-home pay$32,198
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,190 | $15.96 | $28,227 | $2,352 |
| 25th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 | $30,609 | $2,551 |
| Median (50th) | $38,290 | $18.41 | $32,198 | $2,683 |
| 75th percentile | $44,260 | $21.28 | $36,845 | $3,070 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,290 | $26.58 | $45,432 | $3,786 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,290 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $32,198 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,164 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #159 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 |
| 159 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,290 | $32,198 | $31,164 |
*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 Arizona
- Yuma, AZ — $36,050
- Tucson, AZ — $36,250
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median security guard salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $38,290 a year, or about $18.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,250 and $44,260.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $38,290 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $32,198 a year ($2,683 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $749 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,164 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #159 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $114,520
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $103,010
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $98,860
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $85,050
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $77,190
- Private Detective and Investigator — $64,400
- Transportation Security Screener — $63,920
- Firefighter — $61,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $59,700
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $57,280
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $51,770
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,530