Security Guard Salary in Baltimore, MD
Security Guards in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $36,970 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,493 take-home, or $2,541 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,256
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,292
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- Maryland income tax$1,392
- Take-home pay$30,493
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Living in Baltimore City? City residents also pay Baltimore City’s city income tax — about $973 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,520 ($2,460 a month). Choose “Baltimore City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Security Guard pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,810 | $15.77 | $27,348 | $2,279 |
| 25th percentile | $35,390 | $17.01 | $29,298 | $2,442 |
| Median (50th) | $36,970 | $17.77 | $30,493 | $2,541 |
| 75th percentile | $45,460 | $21.86 | $36,911 | $3,076 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,200 | $29.90 | $49,567 | $4,131 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,970 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,493 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,183 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baltimore, MD has 1.4× 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
Baltimore, MD ranks #72 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 |
| 72 | Baltimore, MD | $36,970 | $30,493 | $29,183 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Baltimore, MD?
The median security guard salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $36,970 a year, or about $17.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,390 and $45,460.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $36,970 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $30,493 a year ($2,541 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,392 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,183 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #72 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $124,660
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $76,530
- Firefighter — $73,810
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $64,250
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,080