Security Guard salary in Illinois
Security Guards in Illinois earn a median of $39,490 a year ($18.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 53,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,950 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $38,020. Illinois ranks 19th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 8.8 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,520 | $17.08 |
| 25th percentile | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Median | $39,490 | $18.98 |
| 75th percentile | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Average (mean) | $44,240 | $21.27 |
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 | $3,290.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,645.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,518.85 |
| Weekly | $759.42 |
| Hourly | $18.98 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,600 | 9,720 |
| Springfield, IL | $42,240 | 680 |
| Decatur, IL | $41,220 | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,990 | 48,360 |
| Peoria, IL | $38,530 | 540 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,960 | 760 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,800 | 1,040 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,630 | 140 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $36,370 | 170 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,520 | 470 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,380 | 310 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,250 | 390 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Animal Control Worker | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Firefighter | $78,380 | $37.68 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,190 | $43.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $123,500 | $59.37 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for security guards in Illinois is $39,490 a year, or $18.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Illinois?
The top 10% of security guards in Illinois earn at least $63,950 a year. The top 25% earn $46,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,520 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $37,060 or less.
How many security guards work in Illinois?
About 53,830 security guards are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.