Security Guard salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Security Guards in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $46,830 a year ($22.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 40,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,790 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 27% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $64,210. There are 13 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| 25th percentile | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Median | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| 75th percentile | $71,030 | $34.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,790 | $37.88 |
| Average (mean) | $54,430 | $26.17 |
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 | $3,902.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,951.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,801.15 |
| Weekly | $900.58 |
| Hourly | $22.52 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | 570 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $44,880 | 380 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $42,170 | 340 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $41,950 | 170 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | 260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,450 | 25,460 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,230 | 7,470 |
| Salisbury, MD | $37,180 | 240 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,160 | 200 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $36,970 | 16,020 |
| Richmond, VA | $36,960 | 4,630 |
| Roanoke, VA | $36,900 | 1,300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,780 | 400 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,270 | 500 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 700 |
| Morgantown, WV | $34,290 | 360 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,990 | 760 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $31,230 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,960 | 330 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,730 | 160 |
| Charleston, WV | $20,800 | 2,160 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| School Bus Monitor | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $40,800 | $19.61 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Animal Control Worker | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| Firefighter | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $125,960 | $60.56 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $118,570 | $57.01 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for security guards in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $46,830 a year, or $22.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of security guards in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $78,790 a year. The top 25% earn $71,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,530 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $38,660 or less.
How many security guards work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 40,950 security guards are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.