Security Guard salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Security Guards in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn a median of $42,680 a year ($20.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,950 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 4% lower than the New York statewide median of $44,240. There are 5.1 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $42,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,830 | $16.75 |
| Median | $42,680 | $20.52 |
| 75th percentile | $49,440 | $23.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Average (mean) | $42,820 | $20.59 |
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 | $3,556.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,778.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,641.54 |
| Weekly | $820.77 |
| Hourly | $20.52 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Security Guard pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,290 | $16.01 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Firefighter | $60,700 | $29.18 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $106,110 | $51.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $90,340 | $43.44 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median salary for security guards in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is $42,680 a year, or $20.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The top 10% of security guards in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn at least $54,950 a year. The top 25% earn $49,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $34,830 or less.
How many security guards work in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
About 200 security guards are employed in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.