Security Guard Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Security Guards in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $35,850 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,885 take-home, or $2,490 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,122
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,223
- Medicare (1.45%)$520
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,101
- Take-home pay$29,885
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,690 | $14.27 | $25,124 | $2,094 |
| 25th percentile | $34,580 | $16.63 | $28,903 | $2,409 |
| Median (50th) | $35,850 | $17.24 | $29,885 | $2,490 |
| 75th percentile | $43,650 | $20.99 | $35,913 | $2,993 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,410 | $26.64 | $45,001 | $3,750 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,850 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,885 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,567 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 Pittsburgh, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #141 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 |
| 141 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,850 | $29,885 | $31,567 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Reading, PA — $38,960
- Lancaster, PA — $38,090
- Harrisburg, PA — $37,880
- Erie, PA — $34,530
- Scranton, PA — $35,160
- Williamsport, PA — $34,440
- York, PA — $35,660
- Philadelphia, PA — $37,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median security guard salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $35,850 a year, or about $17.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,580 and $43,650.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $35,850 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $29,885 a year ($2,490 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,101 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,567 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #141 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $103,060
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $95,120
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $83,190
- Firefighter — $72,230
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $60,540
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $47,340
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $36,080
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,990
- School Bus Monitor — $34,970
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $27,640