Security Guards Salary
Protective Service Occupations · 1.3M employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$38,020
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$42,470
Typical range
$30,210–$58,840
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Security Guards is $38,020 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment..
Most earn between $30,210 and $58,840 a year. There are roughly 1.3M people employed as security guards in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Security Guards.
- Hourly
- $18.28
- Daily
- $146
- Weekly
- $731
- Bi-weekly
- $1,462
- Monthly
- $3,168
- Annual
- $38,020
$38,020 a year is around the 50th percentile for Security Guardss. The median is $38,020.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$64,210
- 2Alaska$47,480
- 3Washington$47,100
- 4Vermont$45,550
- 5Oregon$45,500
- 6New Hampshire$45,200
- 7Colorado$45,150
- 8Massachusetts$44,670
- 9New York$44,240
- 10Virginia$43,640
- 11Minnesota$43,380
- 12New Mexico$43,320
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Idaho Falls, ID$78,680
- 2Fairbanks-College, AK$60,400
- 3Kennewick-Richland, WA$54,670
- 4Burlington-South Burlington, VT$51,170
- 5Ithaca, NY$49,540
- 6Lynchburg, VA$49,480
- 7Hinesville, GA$48,780
- 8Walla Walla, WA$48,770
- 9Kahului-Wailuku, HI$48,690
- 10Rochester, MN$47,790
- 11Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$47,490
- 12Napa, CA$47,240
Related job titles
Employers advertise Security Guards roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$55,940
- Transit and Railroad Police$90,230
- Transportation Security Screeners$66,770
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
- Parking Enforcement Workers$46,730
- Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,040
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,540
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,940
What a Security Guards does
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
- Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Security Guards make?
- The median annual wage for Security Guards is $38,020 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $30,210 at the 10th percentile to $58,840 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Security Guards?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $42,470, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Security Guardss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $64,210.
- Is Security Guards a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 1.3M people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Security Guards do?
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.; Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.; Answer alarms and investigate disturbances..