Security Guard Salary in San Francisco, CA
Security Guards in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $45,730 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,511 take-home, or $3,126 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,308
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,835
- Medicare (1.45%)$663
- California income tax$819
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$594
- Take-home pay$37,511
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,340 | $19.39 | $33,466 | $2,789 |
| 25th percentile | $44,160 | $21.23 | $36,333 | $3,028 |
| Median (50th) | $45,730 | $21.99 | $37,511 | $3,126 |
| 75th percentile | $54,840 | $26.37 | $44,191 | $3,683 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,470 | $30.03 | $49,765 | $4,147 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,730 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $37,511 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,445 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 Francisco, CA has 1.4× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #116 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 |
| 116 | San Francisco, CA | $45,730 | $37,511 | $32,445 |
*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 Francisco, CA?
The median security guard salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $45,730 a year, or about $21.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,160 and $54,840.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $45,730 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,511 a year ($3,126 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,413 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,445 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #116 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 84% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $175,840
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $159,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $132,000
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $126,700
- Firefighter — $113,700
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $99,880
- Parking Enforcement Worker — $86,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $60,590
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $54,580
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,490
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $39,120