Security Guard Salary in San Diego, CA
Security Guards in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $38,500 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,085 take-home, or $2,674 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,440
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,387
- Medicare (1.45%)$558
- California income tax$529
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$501
- Take-home pay$32,085
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $30,276 | $2,523 |
| 25th percentile | $37,150 | $17.86 | $31,072 | $2,589 |
| Median (50th) | $38,500 | $18.51 | $32,085 | $2,674 |
| 75th percentile | $45,580 | $21.91 | $37,398 | $3,117 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,310 | $25.63 | $43,073 | $3,589 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,500 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $32,085 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,676 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of security guard jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #216 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 |
| 216 | San Diego, CA | $38,500 | $32,085 | $28,676 |
*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 California
- Redding, CA — $42,330
- Santa Rosa, CA — $45,160
- Napa, CA — $47,240
- San Jose, CA — $46,250
- Santa Maria, CA — $43,250
- El Centro, CA — $37,230
- Santa Cruz, CA — $43,610
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $42,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in San Diego, CA?
The median security guard salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38,500 a year, or about $18.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,150 and $45,580.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $38,500 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,085 a year ($2,674 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,030 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,676 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #216 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 92% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $148,310
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $124,840
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $110,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $99,540
- Transportation Security Screener — $72,130
- Firefighter — $70,900
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $55,360
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $46,330
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,270
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,050