Security Guard salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Security Guards in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $39,990 a year ($19.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 48,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,180 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $39,490. There are 11 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| 25th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Median | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| 75th percentile | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,180 | $30.86 |
| Average (mean) | $44,360 | $21.33 |
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 | $3,332.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,666.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,538.08 |
| Weekly | $769.04 |
| Hourly | $19.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Security Guard salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kokomo, IN | $44,080 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,600 | 9,720 |
| Springfield, IL | $42,240 | 680 |
| Decatur, IL | $41,220 | 150 |
| Peoria, IL | $38,530 | 540 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $38,370 | 120 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,960 | 760 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,800 | 1,040 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,630 | 140 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,510 | 590 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,490 | 9,910 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,420 | 5,000 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $36,370 | 170 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $36,230 | 570 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,110 | 7,970 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,090 | 900 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,520 | 470 |
| Bloomington, IN | $35,510 | 600 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,380 | 310 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,140 | 1,240 |
| Columbus, IN | $34,630 | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,250 | 390 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,010 | 590 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,550 | 330 |
| Muncie, IN | $32,520 | 120 |
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 |
See Security Guard pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Animal Control Worker | $49,370 | $23.74 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| Firefighter | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $84,550 | $40.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,200 | $60.67 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $102,260 | $49.16 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for security guards in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $39,990 a year, or $19.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of security guards in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $64,180 a year. The top 25% earn $46,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,940 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $37,060 or less.
How many security guards work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 48,360 security guards are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.