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

Security Guard Salary

Security Guards earn a median $38,020 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations

U.S. median
$38,020
$18.28 per hour
Range
$30,210 – $58,840
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,283,470
across the U.S.
▼0.9%
Pay trend: The median for security guards in the U.S. fell from $38,370 (May 2024) to $38,020 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 3.3%.

What security guards do

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)
Openings per year
156,000

Employment of security guards is projected to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 156,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Security Guard take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Security Guard
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$32,729
per year · effective tax rate 13.9%
$2,727Monthly
$1,364Twice a month
$1,259Every 2 weeks
$15.74Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,382
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,357
  • Medicare (1.45%)$551
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$32,729

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$30,210$14.52$26,454
25th percentile$35,210$16.93$30,471
Median (50th)$38,020$18.28$32,729
75th percentile$46,200$22.21$39,302
90th percentile (top earners)$58,840$28.29$49,458

Best cities for security guards (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Albuquerque, NM$44,780$37,202$38,9374,440
2Omaha, NE$42,370$35,176$38,2723,170
3Kansas City, MO$41,810$34,747$37,5467,730
4St. Louis, MO$42,600$35,344$37,1709,720
5Seattle, WA$47,490$40,338$36,29717,030
6Rochester, NY$42,860$34,901$35,9673,300
7Salt Lake City, UT$43,260$35,959$35,6495,120
8Albany, NY$43,250$35,193$35,3462,340
9Denver, CO$45,420$37,385$35,34110,910
10Washington, DC$46,830$38,164$35,05040,950
11Grand Rapids, MI$40,810$33,487$35,0483,100
12Portland, OR$46,820$36,533$34,6549,110
13Des Moines, IA$37,550$31,576$34,4342,360
14Bridgeport, CT$44,390$36,775$34,4132,770
15San Jose, CA$46,250$37,901$34,32411,800
16Tulsa, OK$36,640$30,517$34,2063,390
17Atlantic City, NJ$39,900$33,561$33,9492,870
18Minneapolis, MN$43,430$35,571$33,93510,930
19Baton Rouge, LA$36,500$30,799$33,9272,810
20Boston, MA$44,990$36,300$33,52819,250
21Oklahoma City, OK$36,320$30,274$33,4864,890
22Knoxville, TN$35,810$30,953$33,4382,860
23Austin, TX$37,920$32,649$33,2938,410
24Nashville, TN$37,010$31,918$33,13110,710
25Memphis, TN$35,100$30,383$32,9618,450

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Security Guard salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $64,210+1.7%$51,046 $36,600 – $78,91015,880
Alaska $47,480−2.3%$40,330 $36,520 – $76,3502,100
Washington $47,100−1.9%$40,025 $37,720 – $68,39025,800
Vermont $45,550+6.4%$37,687 $36,040 – $72,620930
Oregon $45,500+4.2%$35,588 $36,500 – $58,51012,200
New Hampshire $45,200+1.6%$38,498 $36,500 – $62,4002,450
Colorado $45,150−2.0%$37,180 $36,160 – $57,36016,890
Massachusetts $44,670−0.6%$36,059 $34,830 – $55,80023,930
New York $44,240+3.7%$35,935 $35,650 – $60,580134,700
Virginia $43,640+0.5%$35,550 $30,990 – $73,06034,870
Minnesota $43,380−5.7%$35,534 $33,760 – $65,09014,440
New Mexico $43,320+12.1%$36,092 $30,220 – $64,8408,410
California $43,240−1.6%$35,642 $36,010 – $57,880199,480
Hawaii $42,820+2.5%$34,819 $35,140 – $58,84010,160
Utah $42,700+0.6%$35,534 $31,270 – $56,6207,310
Missouri $40,390−0.7%$33,672 $31,040 – $68,86018,630
Connecticut $39,920−0.2%$33,384 $34,950 – $59,22012,100
Nebraska $39,840+2.3%$33,258 $34,020 – $70,3104,700
Illinois $39,490+2.2%$32,100 $35,520 – $63,95053,830
North Dakota $39,310−1.7%$33,766 $31,150 – $64,3901,310
Wyoming $39,200+7.9%$33,677 $30,350 – $67,6801,130
Maine $39,100−5.6%$32,121 $31,470 – $51,5301,930
New Jersey $38,880+0.4%$32,777 $32,230 – $60,42041,540
Montana $38,480+0.5%$32,047 $28,800 – $57,3101,610
Idaho $38,300−5.7%$32,032 $32,030 – $78,6803,750
Arizona $38,290−0.7%$32,198 $31,910 – $52,45029,820
Maryland $38,220−1.0%$31,438 $33,700 – $64,32027,670
Wisconsin $37,440−4.3%$31,397 $30,410 – $54,68012,030
Nevada $37,310−2.7%$32,159 $29,140 – $48,34026,680
South Dakota $37,150+0.4%$32,030 $30,060 – $59,8401,460
Iowa $37,080−0.8%$31,217 $30,350 – $59,2906,890
Kansas $37,080+2.7%$30,704 $29,590 – $51,8907,150
Michigan $37,080−2.7%$30,649 $29,790 – $54,77025,240
Pennsylvania $37,050−1.7%$30,812 $30,050 – $54,83043,610
Rhode Island $36,940−5.0%$31,093 $31,200 – $48,5203,160
Indiana $36,490−2.8%$30,453 $29,850 – $59,99019,930
Delaware $36,360−3.5%$30,054 $32,450 – $73,3903,430
Oklahoma $36,270−0.8%$30,236 $26,940 – $56,08012,210
Tennessee $36,000−0.2%$31,106 $29,310 – $51,68027,690
Texas $35,980+7.8%$31,090 $26,950 – $50,740106,210
Florida $35,900−0.5%$31,026 $29,470 – $46,09095,370
Arkansas $35,770−3.6%$29,739 $28,870 – $57,4106,390
Ohio $35,770−1.1%$30,720 $29,030 – $55,44034,450
South Carolina $35,460+1.8%$29,702 $27,420 – $48,85016,610
Kentucky $35,420−0.3%$29,518 $28,450 – $50,80013,580
North Carolina $35,010−2.5%$29,422 $29,260 – $56,02029,830
Georgia $34,980−1.9%$29,094 $29,060 – $48,59036,210
Alabama $33,720+8.0%$27,853 $23,110 – $45,64015,210
Louisiana $32,240+1.8%$27,504 $23,660 – $49,04017,210
Mississippi $29,180−1.8%$25,191 $21,690 – $42,58010,160
West Virginia $28,800−22.6%$24,595 $20,800 – $47,3705,200

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Gambling Surveillance Officer and Gambling Investigator$43,370High school diploma or equivalent-1.8%
Crossing Guard and Flagger$38,100No formal educational credential+3.5%
School Bus Monitor$35,100High school diploma or equivalent-1.9%
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580No formal educational credential+5.5%
Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,540High school diploma or equivalent+3.0%
Animal Control Worker$45,660High school diploma or equivalent+4.0%
Private Detective and Investigator$51,220High school diploma or equivalent+5.5%
Transportation Security Screener$66,770High school diploma or equivalent-4.2%
Parking Enforcement Worker$46,730High school diploma or equivalent-1.1%
First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers$55,940High school diploma or equivalent+3.7%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make?

The national median salary for security guards is $38,020 a year ($18.28 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,210 and the top 10% earn over $58,840. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays security guards the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $64,210. After taxes and local prices, Albuquerque, NM offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many security guards are there in the U.S.?

About 1,283,470 people work as security guards nationwide.

All 77 cities