Security Guard Salary in Rochester, MN
Security Guards in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median $47,790 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,841 take-home, or $3,237 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Rochester, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,555
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,963
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Minnesota income tax$1,738
- Take-home pay$38,841
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Rochester, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,840 | $14.83 | $26,129 | $2,177 |
| 25th percentile | $40,240 | $19.35 | $33,179 | $2,765 |
| Median (50th) | $47,790 | $22.98 | $38,841 | $3,237 |
| 75th percentile | $55,980 | $26.91 | $44,877 | $3,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,960 | $29.79 | $49,275 | $4,106 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,790 buys in Rochester, MN
Prices in Rochester, MN are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $38,841 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,767 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 Rochester, MN than nationally (location quotient 0.51), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, MN ranks #4 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 |
*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 Minnesota
- Duluth, MN — $37,520
- Minneapolis, MN — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Rochester, MN?
The median security guard salary in the Rochester, MN metro area is $47,790 a year, or about $22.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,240 and $55,980.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Rochester, MN?
On the median $47,790 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $38,841 a year ($3,237 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,738 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, MN a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,767 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, MN ranks #4 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Rochester, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, MN is $1,124 a month ($1,332 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.