The average salary for a security guard in California is around $27,992 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $27,992.
Wages typically start from $22,094 and go up to $35,466.
62% below national average Updated in 2018
Security guard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level security guard earnings begin at:
$17.05 per hour
$35,466 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$15.24 per hour
$31,705 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:
$13.46 per hour
$27,992 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$11.88 per hour
$24,715 per year
10th percentile
Starting level security guard earnings begin at:
$10.62 per hour
$22,094 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 California. On average, they make less than housekeeping cleaners but more than nail technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Housekeeping cleaner salary | $28K |
| Hand sewer salary | $29K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $26K |
| Receptionist salary | $28K |
| Stock clerk salary | $28K |
| Security guard salary | $28K |
| Food server salary | $28K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $25K |
| Barista salary | $26K |
| Nail technician salary | $25K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)