Security Guard Salary in New York, NY
Security Guards in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $43,980 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,740 take-home, or $2,978 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,727
- Medicare (1.45%)$638
- New York income tax$1,778
- Take-home pay$35,740
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,278 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $34,462 ($2,872 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,360 | $17.00 | $29,279 | $2,440 |
| 25th percentile | $36,940 | $17.76 | $30,464 | $2,539 |
| Median (50th) | $43,980 | $21.14 | $35,740 | $2,978 |
| 75th percentile | $51,530 | $24.77 | $41,399 | $3,450 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,720 | $29.19 | $48,287 | $4,024 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,980 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,740 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,751 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.8× 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
New York, NY ranks #40 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 |
| 40 | New York, NY | $43,980 | $35,740 | $31,751 |
*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 New York
- Rochester, NY — $42,860
- Albany, NY — $43,250
- Buffalo, NY — $38,420
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $42,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in New York, NY?
The median security guard salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $43,980 a year, or about $21.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,940 and $51,530.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $43,980 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $35,740 a year ($2,978 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,778 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,751 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #40 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 80% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,270
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $132,810
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $106,440
- Firefighter — $106,420
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $105,540
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $93,220
- Bailiff — $83,360
- Transportation Security Screener — $72,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $59,890
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $57,920
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $43,440
- School Bus Monitor — $37,340