Security Guard Salary in California
Median annual pay in California
$43,240
$20.79/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in California
$39,053
Regional Price Parity: 110.720 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($38,020): +$5,220 (+13.7%)
California ranks 13th of 51 states by median pay, and 31st of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Median | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 90th percentile | $57,880 | $27.83 |
Employment
- Employment in California
- 199,480
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in California
- $43,240
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $38,020
- Difference
- +$5,220 (+13.7%)
Cost of living
$43,240 ÷ 110.720 × 100 = $39,053
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | ||
| 11th | $43,380 | $43,987 10th |
| New Mexico | ||
| 12th | $43,320 | $46,979 2nd |
| California This page | ||
| 13th | $43,240 | $39,053 31st |
| Hawaii | ||
| 14th | $42,820 | $38,945 32nd |
| Utah | ||
| 15th | $42,700 | $43,191 13th |
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 California
$42,720/year California
- 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 publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Security Guard salary in nearby places
- Security Guard salary in Arizona
$38,290/year Arizona
- Security Guard salary in Nevada
$37,310/year Nevada
- Security Guard salary in Oregon
$45,500/year Oregon
- Security Guard salary in the U.S.
$38,020/year U.S.
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.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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