Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Security Guard Salary in Minneapolis, MN

Security Guards in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $43,430 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,571 take-home, or $2,964 a month.

Median salary
$43,430
$20.88 per hour
Typical range
$35,630 – $65,200
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Minneapolis, MN
10,930
0.68× national concentration
▼5.8%
Pay trend: The median for security guards in Minneapolis, MN fell from $46,080 (May 2024) to $43,430 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 8.2%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Security Guard in Minneapolis, MN
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$35,571
per year · effective tax rate 18.1%
$2,964Monthly
$1,482Twice a month
$1,368Every 2 weeks
$17.10Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,032
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,693
  • Medicare (1.45%)$630
  • Minnesota income tax$1,505
  • Take-home pay$35,571

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Security Guard pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$35,630$17.13$29,721$2,477
25th percentile$37,030$17.80$30,771$2,564
Median (50th)$43,430$20.88$35,571$2,964
75th percentile$45,770$22.00$37,326$3,111
90th percentile (top earners)$65,200$31.35$51,658$4,305

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $43,430 buys in Minneapolis, MN

Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,571 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,935 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,396
47% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,700
57% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,568
per month for everything else

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 Minneapolis, MN than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.

Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living

Minneapolis, MN ranks #18 of 77 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Albuquerque, NM $44,780$37,202$38,937
2Omaha, NE $42,370$35,176$38,272
3Kansas City, MO $41,810$34,747$37,546
4St. Louis, MO $42,600$35,344$37,170
5Seattle, WA $47,490$40,338$36,297
6Rochester, NY $42,860$34,901$35,967
7Salt Lake City, UT $43,260$35,959$35,649
8Albany, NY $43,250$35,193$35,346
18Minneapolis, MN$43,430$35,571$33,935

*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 Minneapolis, MN?

The median security guard salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $43,430 a year, or about $20.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,030 and $45,770.

What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?

On the median $43,430 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $35,571 a year ($2,964 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,505 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.

Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a security guard?

Pay here is 14% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,935 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #18 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a security guard afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Minneapolis, MN →