Security Guard Salary in Albany, NY
Security Guards in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area earn a median $43,250 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,193 take-home, or $2,933 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Albany, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,010
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,682
- Medicare (1.45%)$627
- New York income tax$1,739
- Take-home pay$35,193
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Security Guard pay by experience in Albany, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,290 | $16.97 | $29,227 | $2,436 |
| 25th percentile | $37,230 | $17.90 | $30,681 | $2,557 |
| Median (50th) | $43,250 | $20.79 | $35,193 | $2,933 |
| 75th percentile | $51,010 | $24.52 | $41,009 | $3,417 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,140 | $28.43 | $47,102 | $3,925 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,250 buys in Albany, NY
Prices in Albany, NY are 0.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,193 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,346 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 Albany, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Albany, NY ranks #8 of 77 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 2 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,810 | $34,747 | $37,546 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,600 | $35,344 | $37,170 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $47,490 | $40,338 | $36,297 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $42,860 | $34,901 | $35,967 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,260 | $35,959 | $35,649 |
| 8 | Albany, NY | $43,250 | $35,193 | $35,346 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 77 metros →
About the job: security guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.9% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in New York
- Rochester, NY — $42,860
- 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 Albany, NY?
The median security guard salary in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area is $43,250 a year, or about $20.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,230 and $51,010.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Albany, NY?
On the median $43,250 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $35,193 a year ($2,933 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,739 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Albany, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 0.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Albany, NY ranks #8 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Albany, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albany, NY is $1,417 a month ($1,702 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.