Security Guard salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Security Guards in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $45,730 a year ($21.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 26,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,470 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $43,240. There are 11 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| Median | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| 75th percentile | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,470 | $30.03 |
| Average (mean) | $50,270 | $24.17 |
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 | $3,810.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,905.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,758.85 |
| Weekly | $879.42 |
| Hourly | $21.99 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $47,240 | 760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,250 | 11,800 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,160 | 1,560 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,610 | 470 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,250 | 800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,980 | 530 |
| Vallejo, CA | $42,800 | 950 |
| Redding, CA | $42,330 | 490 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40,960 | 1,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,030 | 83,280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $39,460 | 11,930 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,990 | 930 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,700 | 1,520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,530 | 2,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,500 | 16,090 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,440 | 2,020 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,980 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,280 | 22,010 |
| Chico, CA | $37,250 | 340 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,230 | 670 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,180 | 3,620 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,180 | 390 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 | 750 |
| Merced, CA | $36,820 | 400 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $54,580 | $26.24 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $70,150 | $33.73 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| School Bus Monitor | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| Animal Control Worker | $77,540 | $37.28 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $132,000 | $63.46 |
| Firefighter | $113,700 | $54.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $175,840 | $84.54 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $99,880 | $48.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,590 | $29.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $159,570 | $76.71 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for security guards in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $45,730 a year, or $21.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of security guards in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $62,470 a year. The top 25% earn $54,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,340 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $44,160 or less.
How many security guards work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 26,830 security guards are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.