The average salary for a security guard in the United States is around $16,483 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $16,483.
Wages typically start from $12,672 and go up to $21,439.
75% below national average Updated in 2023
Security guard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level security guard earnings begin at:
$10.31 per hour
$21,439 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$9.10 per hour
$18,929 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:
$7.92 per hour
$16,483 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$6.90 per hour
$14,353 per year
10th percentile
Starting level security guard earnings begin at:
$6.09 per hour
$12,672 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Security guard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $50,110 |
| Alaska | $39,620 |
| Washington | $38,830 |
| Massachusetts | $38,370 |
| New York | $37,770 |
| Minnesota | $37,100 |
| Colorado | $36,590 |
| Hawaii | $36,590 |
| Virginia | $36,570 |
| California | $36,060 |
| Maryland | $36,000 |
| Connecticut | $35,140 |
| Rhode Island | $34,940 |
| New Hampshire | $34,350 |
| Vermont | $33,350 |
| Illinois | $32,810 |
| North Dakota | $31,470 |
| Idaho | $31,430 |
| New Jersey | $31,430 |
| Wyoming | $31,230 |
| Maine | $31,200 |
| Michigan | $31,050 |
| Utah | $30,870 |
| Delaware | $30,850 |
| Missouri | $30,850 |
| Nebraska | $30,850 |
| Oregon | $30,850 |
| South Dakota | $30,700 |
| Montana | $30,660 |
| Arizona | $30,570 |
| Indiana | $30,570 |
| Nevada | $30,350 |
| Iowa | $29,980 |
| Wisconsin | $29,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,860 |
| Texas | $29,640 |
| Georgia | $29,330 |
| Ohio | $29,080 |
| North Carolina | $28,990 |
| Kansas | $28,910 |
| New Mexico | $28,910 |
| Oklahoma | $28,910 |
| Tennessee | $28,910 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,910 |
| Florida | $28,820 |
| South Carolina | $28,680 |
| Louisiana | $28,560 |
| Arkansas | $27,390 |
| Kentucky | $27,320 |
| Mississippi | $24,940 |
| Alabama | $24,060 |
| West Virginia | $23,130 |
| Guam | $20,040 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,420 |
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 hairdressers but more than receptionists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hairdresser salary | $19K |
| Teller salary | $19K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $19K |
| Customer service representative salary | $18K |
| Office clerk salary | $16K |
| Security guard salary | $16K |
| Switchboard operator salary | $16K |
| Concierge salary | $14K |
| Recreation worker salary | $13K |
| Receptionist salary | $10K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)