Security Guard salary in New York
Security Guards in New York earn a median of $44,240 a year ($21.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 134,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,580 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $38,020. New York ranks 9th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 14 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| 25th percentile | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| Median | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| 75th percentile | $51,850 | $24.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,580 | $29.13 |
| Average (mean) | $46,450 | $22.33 |
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 | $3,686.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,843.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,701.54 |
| Weekly | $850.77 |
| Hourly | $21.27 |
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 New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $49,540 | 240 |
| Syracuse, NY | $45,050 | 1,770 |
| Kingston, NY | $44,790 | 280 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $44,420 | 950 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,980 | 142,760 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $43,250 | 2,340 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $42,910 | 3,080 |
| Rochester, NY | $42,860 | 3,300 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $42,680 | 200 |
| Binghamton, NY | $42,070 | 640 |
| Elmira, NY | $40,130 | 90 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $38,920 | 270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,420 | 3,860 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $36,910 | $17.74 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $72,010 | $34.62 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $52,690 | $25.33 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $59,140 | $28.43 |
| Animal Control Worker | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $49,110 | $23.61 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $92,790 | $44.61 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| Firefighter | $100,960 | $48.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $124,080 | $59.66 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $101,240 | $48.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,890 | $28.79 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for security guards in New York is $44,240 a year, or $21.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in New York?
The top 10% of security guards in New York earn at least $60,580 a year. The top 25% earn $51,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,650 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $37,210 or less.
How many security guards work in New York?
About 134,700 security guards are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.