Security Guard Salary in Detroit, MI
Security Guards in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $37,050 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,626 take-home, or $2,552 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,266
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,297
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- Michigan income tax$1,324
- Take-home pay$30,626
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $889 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,737 ($2,478 a month). Choose “Detroit” 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 Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,170 | $14.02 | $24,629 | $2,052 |
| 25th percentile | $34,400 | $16.54 | $28,609 | $2,384 |
| Median (50th) | $37,050 | $17.81 | $30,626 | $2,552 |
| 75th percentile | $47,040 | $22.62 | $38,228 | $3,186 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,940 | $26.41 | $44,240 | $3,687 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,050 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,626 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,535 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 Detroit, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #57 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 |
| 57 | Detroit, MI | $37,050 | $30,626 | $30,535 |
*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 Michigan
- Grand Rapids, MI — $40,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Detroit, MI?
The median security guard salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $37,050 a year, or about $17.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,400 and $47,040.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $37,050 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $30,626 a year ($2,552 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,324 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,535 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #57 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,450
- Firefighter — $62,730