Security Guard salary in the U.S.
Security Guards in the U.S. earn a median of $38,020 a year ($18.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,283,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,840 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $42,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Median | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 75th percentile | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| Average (mean) | $42,470 | $20.42 |
Half of security guards earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,168.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,584.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,462.31 |
| Weekly | $731.15 |
| Hourly | $18.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Security Guard salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 | 15,880 |
| Alaska | $47,480 | 2,100 |
| Washington | $47,100 | 25,800 |
| Vermont | $45,550 | 930 |
| Oregon | $45,500 | 12,200 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 | 2,450 |
| Colorado | $45,150 | 16,890 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 | 23,930 |
| New York | $44,240 | 134,700 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | 34,870 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 | 14,440 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 | 8,410 |
| California | $43,240 | 199,480 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 | 10,160 |
| Utah | $42,700 | 7,310 |
| Missouri | $40,390 | 18,630 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 | 12,100 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 | 4,700 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | 53,830 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 | 1,310 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 | 1,130 |
| Maine | $39,100 | 1,930 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | 41,540 |
| Montana | $38,480 | 1,610 |
| Idaho | $38,300 | 3,750 |
| Arizona | $38,290 | 29,820 |
| Maryland | $38,220 | 27,670 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 | 12,030 |
| Nevada | $37,310 | 26,680 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 | 1,460 |
| Iowa | $37,080 | 6,890 |
| Kansas | $37,080 | 7,150 |
| Michigan | $37,080 | 25,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | 43,610 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | 3,160 |
| Indiana | $36,490 | 19,930 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | 3,430 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 | 12,210 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | 27,690 |
| Texas | $35,980 | 106,210 |
| Florida | $35,900 | 95,370 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 | 6,390 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | 34,450 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | 16,610 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 | 13,580 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 | 29,830 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | 36,210 |
| Alabama | $33,720 | 15,210 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 | 17,210 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,990 | 1,030 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 | 5,200 |
| Guam | $22,090 | 800 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 26,100 |
Best-paying metro areas for security guards
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | 570 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $60,400 | 130 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $54,670 | 500 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $51,170 | 410 |
| Ithaca, NY | $49,540 | 240 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | 570 |
| Hinesville, GA | $48,780 | 120 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $48,770 | 60 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $48,690 | 780 |
| Rochester, MN | $47,790 | 520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,490 | 17,030 |
| Napa, CA | $47,240 | 760 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,820 | 9,110 |
| Anchorage, AK | $46,720 | 1,090 |
Metro areas with the most security guards
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 142,760 | $43,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 83,280 | $40,030 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 48,360 | $39,990 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 41,530 | $36,040 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 40,950 | $46,830 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 34,000 | $36,680 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 29,250 | $35,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 26,830 | $45,730 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 25,460 | $37,450 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 23,800 | $37,210 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 23,160 | $38,290 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 22,730 | $35,150 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 22,420 | $21,840 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 22,010 | $37,280 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 19,250 | $44,990 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in the U.S.?
The median salary for security guards in the U.S. is $38,020 a year, or $18.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of security guards in the U.S. earn at least $58,840 a year. The top 25% earn $46,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,210 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $35,210 or less.
How many security guards work in the U.S.?
About 1,283,470 security guards are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.