The average salary for a security guard in California is around $36,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $36,060.
Wages typically start from $30,070 and go up to $48,430.
51% below national average Updated in 2021
Security guard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level security guard earnings begin at:
$23.28 per hour
$48,430 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$18.99 per hour
$39,510 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:
$17.34 per hour
$36,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$14.87 per hour
$30,920 per year
10th percentile
Starting level security guard earnings begin at:
$14.46 per hour
$30,070 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 California. On average, they make less than office clerks but more than janitors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Office clerk salary | $39K |
| Shipping and receiving clerk salary | $38K |
| Teller salary | $37K |
| Hairdresser salary | $30K |
| Courier salary | $37K |
| Security guard salary | $36K |
| Concierge salary | $36K |
| Tailor salary | $32K |
| Receptionist salary | $36K |
| Janitor salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)