Security Guard Salary in Rochester, NY
Security Guards in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $42,860 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,901 take-home, or $2,908 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,963
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,657
- Medicare (1.45%)$621
- New York income tax$1,717
- Take-home pay$34,901
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,980 | $16.82 | $28,995 | $2,416 |
| 25th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,479 | $2,540 |
| Median (50th) | $42,860 | $20.61 | $34,901 | $2,908 |
| 75th percentile | $49,230 | $23.67 | $39,675 | $3,306 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,790 | $29.23 | $48,339 | $4,028 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,860 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $34,901 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,967 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 Rochester, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Rochester, NY | $42,860 | $34,901 | $35,967 |
*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 New York
- Utica, NY — $44,420
- Syracuse, NY — $45,050
- Binghamton, NY — $42,070
- Albany, NY — $43,250
- Buffalo, NY — $38,420
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $42,910
- New York, NY — $43,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Rochester, NY?
The median security guard salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $42,860 a year, or about $20.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,960 and $49,230.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $42,860 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $34,901 a year ($2,908 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,717 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,967 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #25 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $110,490
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $107,660
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $92,920
- Firefighter — $89,120
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $76,820
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $35,170
- School Bus Monitor — $34,710