Security Guard Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Security Guards in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $40,030 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,233 take-home, or $2,769 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,624
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,482
- Medicare (1.45%)$580
- California income tax$591
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$520
- Take-home pay$33,233
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Security Guard pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,300 | $17.45 | $30,434 | $2,536 |
| 25th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 | $31,057 | $2,588 |
| Median (50th) | $40,030 | $19.25 | $33,233 | $2,769 |
| 75th percentile | $45,730 | $21.99 | $37,511 | $3,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,750 | $27.28 | $45,586 | $3,799 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,030 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $33,233 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,263 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.6× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #70 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 |
| 70 | Los Angeles, CA | $40,030 | $33,233 | $29,263 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $46,250
- San Francisco, CA — $45,730
- Sacramento, CA — $39,460
- Stockton, CA — $38,530
- Fresno, CA — $37,180
- Riverside, CA — $37,280
- San Diego, CA — $38,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median security guard salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $40,030 a year, or about $19.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,130 and $45,730.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $40,030 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,233 a year ($2,769 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,111 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,263 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #70 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 81% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $169,350
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $167,600
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $127,890
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $121,980
- Firefighter — $98,050
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $78,770
- Transportation Security Screener — $73,610
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $55,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,900
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,800
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $37,290