Security Guard Salary in Columbus, OH
Security Guards in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $35,800 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,743 take-home, or $2,562 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Ohio income tax$202
- Take-home pay$30,743
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $895 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,848 ($2,487 a month). Choose “Columbus” 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 Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,600 | $14.23 | $25,932 | $2,161 |
| 25th percentile | $33,520 | $16.12 | $28,974 | $2,414 |
| Median (50th) | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,743 | $2,562 |
| 75th percentile | $44,880 | $21.58 | $37,789 | $3,149 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,370 | $26.14 | $45,153 | $3,763 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,800 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,743 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,202 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 about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | $35,800 | $30,743 | $32,202 |
*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 Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $35,890
- Cincinnati, OH — $36,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Columbus, OH?
The median security guard salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $35,800 a year, or about $17.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,520 and $44,880.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $35,800 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,743 a year ($2,562 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $202 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,202 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #33 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $100,890
- Firefighter — $61,780
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $58,040