Security Guard salary in Texas
Security Guards in Texas earn a median of $35,980 a year ($17.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 106,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,740 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $38,020. Texas ranks 40th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 7.5 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,950 | $12.96 |
| 25th percentile | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| Median | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| 75th percentile | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Average (mean) | $38,550 | $18.54 |
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 | $2,998.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,499.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,383.85 |
| Weekly | $691.92 |
| Hourly | $17.30 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | $38,420 | 230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $37,920 | 8,410 |
| Midland, TX | $37,500 | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,680 | 34,000 |
| Tyler, TX | $36,170 | 530 |
| Abilene, TX | $36,120 | 220 |
| Amarillo, TX | $35,520 | 590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,460 | 29,250 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $35,390 | 730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $35,270 | 11,420 |
| Waco, TX | $35,270 | 650 |
| Lubbock, TX | $35,220 | 850 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $35,010 | 1,100 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $34,920 | 220 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $34,060 | 150 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,030 | 490 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $33,870 | 1,210 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $33,860 | 150 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,740 | 1,100 |
| San Angelo, TX | $33,700 | 120 |
| Victoria, TX | $32,950 | 130 |
| Longview, TX | $31,730 | 550 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $30,030 | 140 |
| El Paso, TX | $29,740 | 3,700 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,290 | 4,100 |
| Laredo, TX | $29,180 | 900 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $68,640 | $33.00 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,810 | $24.91 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| School Bus Monitor | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Animal Control Worker | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Firefighter | $60,180 | $28.94 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $90,510 | $43.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $111,000 | $53.36 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for security guards in Texas is $35,980 a year, or $17.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Texas?
The top 10% of security guards in Texas earn at least $50,740 a year. The top 25% earn $43,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,950 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,290 or less.
How many security guards work in Texas?
About 106,210 security guards are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.