Security Guard Salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Security Guards in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median $43,610 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,920 take-home, or $2,993 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Santa Cruz, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,053
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,704
- Medicare (1.45%)$632
- California income tax$734
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$567
- Take-home pay$35,920
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Santa Cruz, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,480 | $17.54 | $30,569 | $2,547 |
| 25th percentile | $37,640 | $18.10 | $31,439 | $2,620 |
| Median (50th) | $43,610 | $20.97 | $35,920 | $2,993 |
| 75th percentile | $48,870 | $23.50 | $39,830 | $3,319 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,620 | $32.51 | $53,324 | $4,444 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,610 buys in Santa Cruz, CA
Prices in Santa Cruz, CA are 9.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.64× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,920 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,685 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 Santa Cruz, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.58), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Cruz, CA ranks #104 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 |
| 104 | Santa Cruz, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $32,685 |
*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
- San Luis Obispo, CA — $42,980
- Vallejo, CA — $42,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median security guard salary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $43,610 a year, or about $20.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,640 and $48,870.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Santa Cruz, CA?
On the median $43,610 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,920 a year ($2,993 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,301 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,685 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Cruz, CA ranks #104 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,298 a month ($4,214 for two bedrooms) — 110% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.