Security Guard salary in Rochester, MN
Security Guards in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median of $47,790 a year ($22.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,960 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 10% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $43,380. There are 4.2 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $47,040, close to the median.
Pay range for security guards in Rochester, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| 25th percentile | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Median | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| 75th percentile | $55,980 | $26.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| Average (mean) | $47,040 | $22.62 |
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 | $3,982.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,991.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,838.08 |
| Weekly | $919.04 |
| Hourly | $22.98 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,430 | 10,930 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $41,750 | 110 |
| Mankato, MN | $39,760 | 150 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $38,430 | 240 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $37,770 | 350 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,740 | 640 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $37,520 | 550 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,210 | 350 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,810 | $13.37 |
| School Bus Monitor | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,230 | $37.13 |
| Firefighter | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $65,350 | $31.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $75,100 | $36.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $78,800 | $37.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $94,040 | $45.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $77,200 | $37.12 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, MN
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 Rochester, MN?
The median salary for security guards in the Rochester, MN metro area is $47,790 a year, or $22.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Rochester, MN?
The top 10% of security guards in the Rochester, MN metro area earn at least $61,960 a year. The top 25% earn $55,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Rochester, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,840 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $40,240 or less.
How many security guards work in Rochester, MN?
About 520 security guards are employed in the Rochester, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.