Security Guard Salary in St. Louis, MO
Security Guards in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $42,600 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,344 take-home, or $2,945 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,932
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,641
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- Missouri income tax$1,065
- Take-home pay$35,344
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $426 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $34,918 ($2,910 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,460 | $15.61 | $27,673 | $2,306 |
| 25th percentile | $36,450 | $17.52 | $30,692 | $2,558 |
| Median (50th) | $42,600 | $20.48 | $35,344 | $2,945 |
| 75th percentile | $48,130 | $23.14 | $39,528 | $3,294 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,590 | $29.13 | $48,954 | $4,079 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,600 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $35,344 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,170 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #4 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 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $41,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in St. Louis, MO?
The median security guard salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $42,600 a year, or about $20.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,450 and $48,130.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $42,600 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $35,344 a year ($2,945 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,065 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,170 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #4 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $73,240
- Firefighter — $68,970