Checked
Security Guards Salary
Security Guards earn a median $38,020 a year in the U.S., with 1,283,470 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $38,020 a year
- Employment
- 1,283,470
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +0.9%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 156,000
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $38,020 · $18.28 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $42,470 · $20.42 an hour (estimate error ±0.4%)
- 10th percentile
- $30,210 · $14.52 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $35,210 · $16.93 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $46,200 · $22.21 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $58,840 · $28.29 an hour
- Employment
- 1,283,470 (estimate error ±0.4%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment. Excludes “Police Officers” (33-3050) and “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 1.29 million
- Projected for 2035
- 1.31 million
- Change
- +11,300 (+0.9%)
- Openings each year
- 156,000
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 0.7%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,210 | 15,880 |
| 2 | Alaska | $47,480 | 2,100 |
| 3 | Washington | $47,100 | 25,800 |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,550 | 930 |
| 5 | Oregon | $45,500 | 12,200 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $45,200 | 2,450 |
| 7 | Colorado | $45,150 | 16,890 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $44,670 | 23,930 |
| 9 | New York | $44,240 | 134,700 |
| 10 | Virginia | $43,640 | 34,870 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 199,480 | $43,240 |
| New York | 134,700 | $44,240 |
| Texas | 106,210 | $35,980 |
| Florida | 95,370 | $35,900 |
| Illinois | 53,830 | $39,490 |
| Pennsylvania | 43,610 | $37,050 |
| New Jersey | 41,540 | $38,880 |
| Georgia | 36,210 | $34,980 |
| Virginia | 34,870 | $43,640 |
| Ohio | 34,450 | $35,770 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | 570 |
| 2 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $60,400 | 130 |
| 3 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $54,670 | 500 |
| 4 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $51,170 | 410 |
| 5 | Ithaca, NY | $49,540 | 240 |
| 6 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | 570 |
| 7 | Hinesville, GA | $48,780 | 120 |
| 8 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $48,690 | 780 |
| 9 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | 520 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,490 | 17,030 |
| 11 | Napa, CA | $47,240 | 760 |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 142,760 | $43,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 83,280 | $40,030 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 48,360 | $39,990 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 41,530 | $36,040 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 40,950 | $46,830 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 34,000 | $36,680 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 29,250 | $35,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 26,830 | $45,730 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 25,460 | $37,450 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 23,800 | $37,210 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 23,160 | $38,290 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 22,730 | $35,150 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)2 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Security Guards pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Animal Control Workers
- Private Detectives and Investigators
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Transportation Security Screeners
- School Bus Monitors
- Protective Service Workers, All Other
Frequently asked questions
- How much do security guards make?
- The median wage for security guards in the U.S. is $38,020 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,210 and $46,200.
- Which state pays security guards the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median wage for this occupation at $64,210 a year.
- What is the job outlook for security guards?
- BLS projects employment to grow 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 156,000 openings each year on average.
- What education do security guards need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.