Security Guard salary in Gainesville, FL
Security Guards in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median of $33,950 a year ($16.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,150 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 5% lower than the Florida statewide median of $35,900. There are 5.0 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $35,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Gainesville, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| 25th percentile | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Median | $33,950 | $16.32 |
| 75th percentile | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Average (mean) | $35,810 | $17.22 |
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 | $2,829.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,414.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,305.77 |
| Weekly | $652.88 |
| Hourly | $16.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $39,450 | 1,040 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,140 | 520 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,040 | 2,590 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,900 | 350 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $36,100 | 220 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,040 | 41,530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,010 | 12,200 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,650 | 1,430 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,500 | 14,870 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $35,340 | 7,430 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $35,250 | 980 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,170 | 150 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,060 | 450 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,950 | 1,250 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,690 | 2,330 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,550 | 1,340 |
| Ocala, FL | $34,330 | 390 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $34,120 | 140 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,100 | 1,330 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $33,930 | 830 |
| Sebring, FL | $32,610 | 130 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,580 | $24.80 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Firefighter | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $77,190 | $37.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $96,270 | $46.28 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $54,660 | $26.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $45,090 | $21.68 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, FL
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 Gainesville, FL?
The median salary for security guards in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $33,950 a year, or $16.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Gainesville, FL?
The top 10% of security guards in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn at least $45,150 a year. The top 25% earn $38,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Gainesville, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,530 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $30,160 or less.
How many security guards work in Gainesville, FL?
About 770 security guards are employed in the Gainesville, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.