Security Guards Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 51 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median security guards in the US earns $38,020 per year (1,283,470 employed). Gross pay is highest in Washington DC ($64,210) and lowest in West Virginia ($28,800) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Security Guards pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guards in Washington DC | $64,210 | $51,046 | $4,254 | 79.5% | 15,880 |
| Security Guards in Alaska | $47,480 | $40,330 | $3,361 | 84.9% | 2,100 |
| Security Guards in Washington | $47,100 | $40,025 | $3,335 | 85% | 25,800 |
| Security Guards in Vermont | $45,550 | $37,687 | $3,141 | 82.7% | 930 |
| Security Guards in Oregon | $45,500 | $35,588 | $2,966 | 78.2% | 12,200 |
| Security Guards in New Hampshire | $45,200 | $38,498 | $3,208 | 85.2% | 2,450 |
| Security Guards in Colorado | $45,150 | $37,180 | $3,098 | 82.3% | 16,890 |
| Security Guards in Massachusetts | $44,670 | $36,059 | $3,005 | 80.7% | 23,930 |
| Security Guards in New York | $44,240 | $35,935 | $2,995 | 81.2% | 134,700 |
| Security Guards in Virginia | $43,640 | $35,550 | $2,962 | 81.5% | 34,870 |
| Security Guards in Minnesota | $43,380 | $35,534 | $2,961 | 81.9% | 14,440 |
| Security Guards in New Mexico | $43,320 | $36,092 | $3,008 | 83.3% | 8,410 |
| Security Guards in California | $43,240 | $36,204 | $3,017 | 83.7% | 199,480 |
| Security Guards in Hawaii | $42,820 | $34,819 | $2,902 | 81.3% | 10,160 |
| Security Guards in Utah | $42,700 | $34,568 | $2,881 | 81% | 7,310 |
| Security Guards in Missouri | $40,390 | $33,672 | $2,806 | 83.4% | 18,630 |
| Security Guards in Connecticut | $39,920 | $33,384 | $2,782 | 83.6% | 12,100 |
| Security Guards in Nebraska | $39,840 | $33,258 | $2,772 | 83.5% | 4,700 |
| Security Guards in Illinois | $39,490 | $32,100 | $2,675 | 81.3% | 53,830 |
| Security Guards in North Dakota | $39,310 | $33,766 | $2,814 | 85.9% | 1,310 |
| Security Guards in Wyoming | $39,200 | $33,677 | $2,806 | 85.9% | 1,130 |
| Security Guards in Maine | $39,100 | $32,121 | $2,677 | 82.2% | 1,930 |
| Security Guards in New Jersey | $38,880 | $32,777 | $2,731 | 84.3% | 41,540 |
| Security Guards in Montana | $38,480 | $32,047 | $2,671 | 83.3% | 1,610 |
| Security Guards in Idaho | $38,300 | $32,032 | $2,669 | 83.6% | 3,750 |
| Security Guards in Arizona | $38,290 | $32,198 | $2,683 | 84.1% | 29,820 |
| Security Guards in Maryland | $38,220 | $31,438 | $2,620 | 82.3% | 27,670 |
| Security Guards in Wisconsin | $37,440 | $31,397 | $2,616 | 83.9% | 12,030 |
| Security Guards in Nevada | $37,310 | $32,159 | $2,680 | 86.2% | 26,680 |
| Security Guards in South Dakota | $37,150 | $32,030 | $2,669 | 86.2% | 1,460 |
| Security Guards in Iowa | $37,080 | $31,217 | $2,601 | 84.2% | 6,890 |
| Security Guards in Kansas | $37,080 | $30,704 | $2,559 | 82.8% | 7,150 |
| Security Guards in Michigan | $37,080 | $30,649 | $2,554 | 82.7% | 25,240 |
| Security Guards in Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $30,812 | $2,568 | 83.2% | 43,610 |
| Security Guards in Rhode Island | $36,940 | $31,093 | $2,591 | 84.2% | 3,160 |
| Security Guards in Indiana | $36,490 | $30,453 | $2,538 | 83.5% | 19,930 |
| Security Guards in Delaware | $36,360 | $30,054 | $2,505 | 82.7% | 3,430 |
| Security Guards in Oklahoma | $36,270 | $30,236 | $2,520 | 83.4% | 12,210 |
| Security Guards in Tennessee | $36,000 | $31,106 | $2,592 | 86.4% | 27,690 |
| Security Guards in Texas | $35,980 | $31,090 | $2,591 | 86.4% | 106,210 |
| Security Guards in Florida | $35,900 | $31,026 | $2,585 | 86.4% | 95,370 |
| Security Guards in Arkansas | $35,770 | $29,739 | $2,478 | 83.1% | 6,390 |
| Security Guards in Ohio | $35,770 | $30,720 | $2,560 | 85.9% | 34,450 |
| Security Guards in South Carolina | $35,460 | $29,702 | $2,475 | 83.8% | 16,610 |
| Security Guards in Kentucky | $35,420 | $29,518 | $2,460 | 83.3% | 13,580 |
| Security Guards in North Carolina | $35,010 | $29,422 | $2,452 | 84% | 29,830 |
| Security Guards in Georgia | $34,980 | $29,094 | $2,424 | 83.2% | 36,210 |
| Security Guards in Alabama | $33,720 | $27,853 | $2,321 | 82.6% | 15,210 |
| Security Guards in Louisiana | $32,240 | $27,504 | $2,292 | 85.3% | 17,210 |
| Security Guards in Mississippi | $29,180 | $25,191 | $2,099 | 86.3% | 10,160 |
| Security Guards in West Virginia | $28,800 | $24,595 | $2,050 | 85.4% | 5,200 |
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