Security Guard Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Security Guards in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $43,260 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,959 take-home, or $2,997 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,011
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,682
- Medicare (1.45%)$627
- Utah income tax$981
- Take-home pay$35,959
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,270 | $15.03 | $26,864 | $2,239 |
| 25th percentile | $37,360 | $17.96 | $31,484 | $2,624 |
| Median (50th) | $43,260 | $20.80 | $35,959 | $2,997 |
| 75th percentile | $44,930 | $21.60 | $37,225 | $3,102 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,360 | $25.65 | $43,620 | $3,635 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,260 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,959 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,649 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 Salt Lake City, UT than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,260 | $35,959 | $35,649 |
*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 Utah
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median security guard salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $43,260 a year, or about $20.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,360 and $44,930.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $43,260 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $35,959 a year ($2,997 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $981 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,649 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #31 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $116,950
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,970
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $65,910
- Firefighter — $59,150
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,610
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,380