Security Guard Salary in Topeka, KS
Security Guards in the Topeka, KS metro area earn a median $36,830 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,517 take-home, or $2,543 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Topeka, KS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,240
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,283
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- Kansas income tax$1,255
- Take-home pay$30,517
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.58% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Topeka, KS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,710 | $14.28 | $25,171 | $2,098 |
| 25th percentile | $31,190 | $15.00 | $26,283 | $2,190 |
| Median (50th) | $36,830 | $17.71 | $30,517 | $2,543 |
| 75th percentile | $46,310 | $22.26 | $37,606 | $3,134 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,990 | $25.96 | $43,348 | $3,612 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,830 buys in Topeka, KS
Prices in Topeka, KS are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,517 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,359 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 Topeka, KS than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Topeka, KS ranks #54 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 |
| 54 | Topeka, KS | $36,830 | $30,517 | $34,359 |
*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 Kansas
- Wichita, KS — $34,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Topeka, KS?
The median security guard salary in the Topeka, KS metro area is $36,830 a year, or about $17.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,190 and $46,310.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Topeka, KS?
On the median $36,830 salary, a single filer living in Kansas takes home about $30,517 a year ($2,543 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,255 in Kansas taxes in 2026.
Is Topeka, KS a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,359 would in a typical U.S. city. Topeka, KS ranks #54 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Topeka, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Topeka, KS is $820 a month ($1,057 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Topeka, KS
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $63,920
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $59,650