Security Guard salary in California
Security Guards in California earn a median of $43,240 a year ($20.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 199,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,880 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $38,020. California ranks 13th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 11 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Median | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| Average (mean) | $44,920 | $21.60 |
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 | $3,603.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,801.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,663.08 |
| Weekly | $831.54 |
| Hourly | $20.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Security Guard salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $47,240 | 760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,250 | 11,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,730 | 26,830 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,160 | 1,560 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,610 | 470 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,250 | 800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,980 | 530 |
| Vallejo, CA | $42,800 | 950 |
| Redding, CA | $42,330 | 490 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40,960 | 1,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,030 | 83,280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $39,460 | 11,930 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,990 | 930 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,700 | 1,520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,530 | 2,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,500 | 16,090 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,440 | 2,020 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,980 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,280 | 22,010 |
| Chico, CA | $37,250 | 340 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,230 | 670 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,180 | 3,620 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,180 | 390 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 | 750 |
| Merced, CA | $36,820 | 400 |
Highest-paying states for security guards
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| Alaska | $47,480 |
| Washington | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $45,550 |
| Oregon | $45,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 |
| Colorado | $45,150 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 |
| New York | $44,240 |
| Virginia | $43,640 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $61,250 | $29.45 |
| School Bus Monitor | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| Animal Control Worker | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $118,880 | $57.15 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $96,370 | $46.33 |
| Firefighter | $85,120 | $40.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $163,960 | $78.83 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $53,960 | $25.94 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for security guards in California is $43,240 a year, or $20.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in California?
The top 10% of security guards in California earn at least $57,880 a year. The top 25% earn $46,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,010 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $37,180 or less.
How many security guards work in California?
About 199,480 security guards are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.