Security Guard Salary in Portland, ME
Security Guards in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $39,190 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,188 take-home, or $2,682 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Portland, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,523
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,430
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- Maine income tax$1,481
- Take-home pay$32,188
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.80% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,420 | $16.55 | $28,632 | $2,386 |
| 25th percentile | $34,780 | $16.72 | $28,900 | $2,408 |
| Median (50th) | $39,190 | $18.84 | $32,188 | $2,682 |
| 75th percentile | $46,800 | $22.50 | $37,806 | $3,151 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,680 | $27.73 | $45,814 | $3,818 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,190 buys in Portland, ME
Prices in Portland, ME are 1.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $32,188 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,601 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 Portland, ME than nationally (location quotient 0.33), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #139 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 |
| 139 | Portland, ME | $39,190 | $32,188 | $31,601 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 224 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Portland, ME?
The median security guard salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $39,190 a year, or about $18.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,780 and $46,800.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $39,190 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $32,188 a year ($2,682 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,481 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,601 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #139 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Portland, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, ME is $1,548 a month ($1,968 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $73,600
- Firefighter — $49,320
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $42,670