Security Guard Salary in San Jose, CA
Security Guards in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $46,250 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,901 take-home, or $3,158 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,370
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,868
- Medicare (1.45%)$671
- California income tax$839
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$601
- Take-home pay$37,901
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,900 | $21.11 | $36,138 | $3,011 |
| 25th percentile | $45,230 | $21.75 | $37,136 | $3,095 |
| Median (50th) | $46,250 | $22.24 | $37,901 | $3,158 |
| 75th percentile | $54,480 | $26.19 | $43,928 | $3,661 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,970 | $32.20 | $52,927 | $4,411 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,250 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $37,901 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,324 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 Jose, 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 Jose, CA ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | San Jose, CA | $46,250 | $37,901 | $34,324 |
*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
- Santa Maria, CA — $43,250
- El Centro, CA — $37,230
- Santa Cruz, CA — $43,610
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $42,980
- Vallejo, CA — $42,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in San Jose, CA?
The median security guard salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $46,250 a year, or about $22.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,230 and $54,480.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $46,250 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,901 a year ($3,158 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,441 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,324 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #56 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 94% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Firefighter — $152,100
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $136,140
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $132,670
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $58,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $57,910
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $56,240
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $42,460