Security Guards salary
Security Guards earn a median of $38,020 a year ($18.28/hr) in the U.S. – from $21,840 in Puerto Rico to $64,210 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$18.28/hr · $38,020 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$30,210$14.52/hr
75% earn more$35,210$16.93/hr
half earn more, half less$38,020$18.28/hr
25% earn more$46,200$22.21/hr
top 10% earn more$58,840$28.29/hr
pulled up by top earners$42,470$20.42/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among security guards. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for security guards. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
15,880 jobs · $30.87/hr$64,210
2,100 jobs · $22.83/hr$47,480
25,800 jobs · $22.64/hr$47,100
930 jobs · $21.90/hr$45,550
12,200 jobs · $21.88/hr$45,500
2,450 jobs · $21.73/hr$45,200
16,890 jobs · $21.71/hr$45,150
23,930 jobs · $21.48/hr$44,670
134,700 jobs · $21.27/hr$44,240
34,870 jobs · $20.98/hr$43,640
14,440 jobs · $20.86/hr$43,380
8,410 jobs · $20.83/hr$43,320
199,480 jobs · $20.79/hr$43,240
10,160 jobs · $20.59/hr$42,820
7,310 jobs · $20.53/hr$42,700
18,630 jobs · $19.42/hr$40,390
12,100 jobs · $19.19/hr$39,920
4,700 jobs · $19.15/hr$39,840
53,830 jobs · $18.98/hr$39,490
1,310 jobs · $18.90/hr$39,310
1,130 jobs · $18.85/hr$39,200
1,930 jobs · $18.80/hr$39,100
41,540 jobs · $18.69/hr$38,880
1,610 jobs · $18.50/hr$38,480
3,750 jobs · $18.41/hr$38,300
29,820 jobs · $18.41/hr$38,290
27,670 jobs · $18.37/hr$38,220
12,030 jobs · $18.00/hr$37,440
26,680 jobs · $17.94/hr$37,310
1,460 jobs · $17.86/hr$37,150
6,890 jobs · $17.83/hr$37,080
7,150 jobs · $17.83/hr$37,080
25,240 jobs · $17.83/hr$37,080
43,610 jobs · $17.81/hr$37,050
3,160 jobs · $17.76/hr$36,940
19,930 jobs · $17.54/hr$36,490
3,430 jobs · $17.48/hr$36,360
12,210 jobs · $17.44/hr$36,270
27,690 jobs · $17.31/hr$36,000
106,210 jobs · $17.30/hr$35,980
95,370 jobs · $17.26/hr$35,900
6,390 jobs · $17.20/hr$35,770
34,450 jobs · $17.20/hr$35,770
16,610 jobs · $17.05/hr$35,460
13,580 jobs · $17.03/hr$35,420
29,830 jobs · $16.83/hr$35,010
36,210 jobs · $16.82/hr$34,980
15,210 jobs · $16.21/hr$33,720
17,210 jobs · $15.50/hr$32,240
10,160 jobs · $14.03/hr$29,180
5,200 jobs · $13.85/hr$28,800
26,100 jobs · $10.50/hr$21,840
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 33-9032. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do security guards make?
The median wage for security guards in the U.S. was $18.28 an hour or $38,020 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $35,210 and $46,200 a year.
Which state pays security guards the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for security guards: $64,210 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $21,840. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many security guards are there?
BLS estimates 1,283,470 security guards were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.