Security guard earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level security guard earnings begin at:

$18.43 per hour

$38,340 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:

$15.70 per hour

$32,654 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:

$13.14 per hour

$27,321 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:

$10.99 per hour

$22,858 per year

10th percentile

Starting level security guard earnings begin at:

$9.36 per hour

$19,469 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Security guard salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $44,010
Alaska $42,240
Idaho $34,937
Washington $34,900
Connecticut $34,656
New York $34,619
North Dakota $33,910
Hawaii $33,330
Virginia $32,740
New Hampshire $32,680
Maryland $32,420
Massachusetts $32,400
Missouri $32,060
Minnesota $32,020
Nebraska $30,840
Colorado $30,210
Wyoming $30,200
New Jersey $29,970
Utah $29,950
Tennessee $29,940
Arizona $29,748
Rhode Island $29,270
Arkansas $29,228
Georgia $29,100
Maine $28,840
Pennsylvania $28,750
Nevada $28,720
Illinois $28,388
California $27,992
South Dakota $27,990
Kansas $27,974
Florida $27,790
Indiana $27,409
Wisconsin $27,160
Oklahoma $27,130
Vermont $26,970
Oregon $26,840
North Carolina $26,720
South Carolina $26,320
Montana $26,300
Ohio $26,200
New Mexico $26,010
Texas $26,010
Iowa $25,713
Delaware $25,650
Kentucky $24,915
Louisiana $24,730
Michigan $24,420
Virgin Islands, U.S. $23,850
Alabama $23,651
West Virginia $23,370
Mississippi $23,190
Guam $19,560
Puerto Rico $18,160

How do security guard salaries compare to similar careers?

Security guards earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than nail technicians but more than medical secretaries.

Career Median Salary
Nail technician salary $30K
Teller salary $29K
Hairdresser salary $29K
Concierge salary $28K
Florist salary $27K
Security guard salary $27K
Library assistant salary $27K
Vehicle cleaner salary $26K
Food server salary $27K
Medical secretary salary $27K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)