The average salary for a security guard in the United States is around $38,020 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $38,020.
Wages typically start from $30,210 and go up to $58,840.
38% below national average Updated in 2025
Security guard earnings by seniority
Top-level security guard earnings begin at:
$28.29 per hour
$58,840 per year
Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$22.21 per hour
$46,200 per year
Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:
$18.28 per hour
$38,020 per year
Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$16.93 per hour
$35,210 per year
Starting level security guard earnings begin at:
$14.52 per hour
$30,210 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Security guard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| Alaska | $47,480 |
| Washington | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $45,550 |
| Oregon | $45,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 |
| Colorado | $45,150 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 |
| New York | $44,240 |
| Virginia | $43,640 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 |
| California | $43,240 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 |
| Utah | $42,700 |
| Missouri | $40,390 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 |
| Illinois | $39,490 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 |
| Maine | $39,100 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 |
| Montana | $38,480 |
| Idaho | $38,300 |
| Arizona | $38,290 |
| Maryland | $38,220 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 |
| Nevada | $37,310 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 |
| Iowa | $37,080 |
| Kansas | $37,080 |
| Michigan | $37,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 |
| Indiana | $36,490 |
| Delaware | $36,360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 |
| Texas | $35,980 |
| Florida | $35,900 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 |
| Ohio | $35,770 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 |
| Georgia | $34,980 |
| Alabama | $33,720 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,910 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 |
| 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 customer service representatives but more than receptionists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Customer service representative salary | $45K |
| Tailor salary | $42K |
| Hairdresser salary | $36K |
| Tour guide salary | $38K |
| Concierge salary | $39K |
| Security guard salary | $38K |
| Teller salary | $43K |
| Switchboard operator salary | $39K |
| Courier salary | $39K |
| Receptionist salary | $38K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)