Security Guard salary in District of Columbia
Security Guards in District of Columbia earn a median of $64,210 a year ($30.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,910 for the top 10%. That is 69% higher than the national median of $38,020. District of Columbia ranks 1st of 51 states for security guards pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 23 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,720, close to the median.
Pay range for security guards in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| 25th percentile | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| Median | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| 75th percentile | $74,200 | $35.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,910 | $37.94 |
| Average (mean) | $60,720 | $29.19 |
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 | $5,350.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,675.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,469.62 |
| Weekly | $1,234.81 |
| Hourly | $30.87 |
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 District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $40,800 | $19.61 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $60,400 | $29.04 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $88,570 | $42.58 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $72,720 | $34.96 |
| School Bus Monitor | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $88,650 | $42.62 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $160,760 | $77.29 |
| Firefighter | $75,870 | $36.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $134,760 | $64.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $83,710 | $40.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,560 | $60.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $97,640 | $46.94 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for security guards in District of Columbia is $64,210 a year, or $30.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of security guards in District of Columbia earn at least $78,910 a year. The top 25% earn $74,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,600 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $45,510 or less.
How many security guards work in District of Columbia?
About 15,880 security guards are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.