Security Guard Salary in Syracuse, NY
Security Guards in the Syracuse, NY metro area earn a median $45,050 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,542 take-home, or $3,045 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Syracuse, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,226
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,793
- Medicare (1.45%)$653
- New York income tax$1,836
- Take-home pay$36,542
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Syracuse, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,500 | $16.59 | $28,635 | $2,386 |
| 25th percentile | $36,080 | $17.35 | $29,819 | $2,485 |
| Median (50th) | $45,050 | $21.66 | $36,542 | $3,045 |
| 75th percentile | $52,000 | $25.00 | $41,751 | $3,479 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,650 | $37.33 | $59,861 | $4,988 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,050 buys in Syracuse, NY
Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $36,542 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,167 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 Syracuse, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Syracuse, NY ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Syracuse, NY | $45,050 | $36,542 | $38,167 |
*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 New York
- Utica, NY — $44,420
- Binghamton, NY — $42,070
- Rochester, NY — $42,860
- Albany, NY — $43,250
- Buffalo, NY — $38,420
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $42,910
- New York, NY — $43,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Syracuse, NY?
The median security guard salary in the Syracuse, NY metro area is $45,050 a year, or about $21.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,080 and $52,000.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Syracuse, NY?
On the median $45,050 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $36,542 a year ($3,045 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,836 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Syracuse, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,167 would in a typical U.S. city. Syracuse, NY ranks #9 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Syracuse, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Syracuse, NY is $1,123 a month ($1,392 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Syracuse, NY
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $75,370
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $72,060
- School Bus Monitor — $35,950