Security Guard Salary in the U.S.
Median annual pay in the U.S.
$38,020
$18.28/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Median | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 75th percentile | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| 90th percentile | $58,840 | $28.29 |
Employment
- Employment in the U.S.
- 1,283,470
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Comparison
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | ||
| 1st | $64,210 | $58,425 1st |
| Alaska | ||
| 2nd | $47,480 | $46,386 4th |
| Washington | ||
| 3rd | $47,100 | $44,013 9th |
| Vermont | ||
| 4th | $45,550 | $46,500 3rd |
| Oregon | ||
| 5th | $45,500 | $44,020 8th |
| New Hampshire | ||
| 6th | $45,200 | $43,393 12th |
| Colorado | ||
| 7th | $45,150 | $43,813 11th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 8th | $44,670 | $42,238 17th |
| New York | ||
| 9th | $44,240 | $40,993 22nd |
| Virginia | ||
| 10th | $43,640 | $43,163 14th |
| Minnesota | ||
| 11th | $43,380 | $43,987 10th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 12th | $43,320 | $46,979 2nd |
| California | ||
| 13th | $43,240 | $39,053 31st |
| Hawaii | ||
| 14th | $42,820 | $38,945 32nd |
| Utah | ||
| 15th | $42,700 | $43,191 13th |
| Missouri | ||
| 16th | $40,390 | $44,474 5th |
| Connecticut | ||
| 17th | $39,920 | $38,529 35th |
| Nebraska | ||
| 18th | $39,840 | $44,216 6th |
| Illinois | ||
| 19th | $39,490 | $39,507 27th |
| North Dakota | ||
| 20th | $39,310 | $44,189 7th |
| Wyoming | ||
| 21st | $39,200 | $42,291 15th |
| Maine | ||
| 22nd | $39,100 | $40,289 24th |
| New Jersey | ||
| 23rd | $38,880 | $35,734 48th |
| Montana | ||
| 24th | $38,480 | $40,657 23rd |
| Idaho | ||
| 25th | $38,300 | $40,107 25th |
| Arizona | ||
| 26th | $38,290 | $38,033 36th |
| Maryland | ||
| 27th | $38,220 | $36,414 45th |
| Wisconsin | ||
| 28th | $37,440 | $39,790 26th |
| Nevada | ||
| 29th | $37,310 | $37,318 40th |
| South Dakota | ||
| 30th | $37,150 | $41,937 18th |
| Iowa | ||
| 31st | $37,080 | $42,251 16th |
| Kansas | ||
| 31st | $37,080 | $41,169 20th |
| Michigan | ||
| 31st | $37,080 | $38,538 34th |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| 34th | $37,050 | $37,972 37th |
| Rhode Island | ||
| 35th | $36,940 | $36,117 47th |
| Indiana | ||
| 36th | $36,490 | $39,098 30th |
| Delaware | ||
| 37th | $36,360 | $36,430 44th |
| Oklahoma | ||
| 38th | $36,270 | $41,290 19th |
| Tennessee | ||
| 39th | $36,000 | $39,186 29th |
| Texas | ||
| 40th | $35,980 | $37,071 42nd |
| Florida | ||
| 41st | $35,900 | $34,715 49th |
| Arkansas | ||
| 42nd | $35,770 | $41,145 21st |
| Ohio | ||
| 42nd | $35,770 | $38,556 33rd |
| South Carolina | ||
| 44th | $35,460 | $37,824 39th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 45th | $35,420 | $39,286 28th |
| North Carolina | ||
| 46th | $35,010 | $37,116 41st |
| Georgia | ||
| 47th | $34,980 | $36,327 46th |
| Alabama | ||
| 48th | $33,720 | $37,963 38th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 49th | $32,240 | $36,550 43rd |
| Mississippi | ||
| 50th | $29,180 | $33,558 50th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 51st | $28,800 | $32,180 51st |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
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Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer salary in the U.S.
$76,210/year U.S.
- Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in the U.S.
$53,040/year U.S.
- Crossing Guard and Flagger salary in the U.S.
$38,100/year U.S.
- Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker salary in the U.S.
$33,580/year U.S.
- Facilities Manager salary in the U.S.
$106,660/year U.S.
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other salary in the U.S.
$83,050/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +0.9%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Last updated