Security guards salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Mean (average) | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| 90th percentile | $58,840 | $28.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Security guards pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,720 | $23,110 | $45,640 | 15,210 | 0.87 |
| Alaska | $47,480 | $36,520 | $76,350 | 2,100 | 0.78 |
| Arizona | $38,290 | $31,910 | $52,450 | 29,820 | 1.12 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 | $28,870 | $57,410 | 6,390 | 0.59 |
| California | $43,240 | $36,010 | $57,880 | 199,480 | 1.33 |
| Colorado | $45,150 | $36,160 | $57,360 | 16,890 | 0.71 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 | $34,950 | $59,220 | 12,100 | 0.86 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $32,450 | $73,390 | 3,430 | 0.86 |
| District of Columbia | $64,210 | $36,600 | $78,910 | 15,880 | 2.74 |
| Florida | $35,900 | $29,470 | $46,090 | 95,370 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | $29,060 | $48,590 | 36,210 | 0.9 |
| Guam | $22,090 | $19,560 | $38,280 | 800 | 1.45 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 | $35,140 | $58,840 | 10,160 | 1.96 |
| Idaho | $38,300 | $32,030 | $78,680 | 3,750 | 0.53 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | $35,520 | $63,950 | 53,830 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | $36,490 | $29,850 | $59,990 | 19,930 | 0.75 |
| Iowa | $37,080 | $30,350 | $59,290 | 6,890 | 0.54 |
| Kansas | $37,080 | $29,590 | $51,890 | 7,150 | 0.6 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 | $28,450 | $50,800 | 13,580 | 0.82 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 | $23,660 | $49,040 | 17,210 | 1.08 |
| Maine | $39,100 | $31,470 | $51,530 | 1,930 | 0.36 |
| Maryland | $38,220 | $33,700 | $64,320 | 27,670 | 1.21 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 | $34,830 | $55,800 | 23,930 | 0.8 |
| Michigan | $37,080 | $29,790 | $54,770 | 25,240 | 0.69 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 | $33,760 | $65,090 | 14,440 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 | $21,690 | $42,580 | 10,160 | 1.06 |
| Missouri | $40,390 | $31,040 | $68,860 | 18,630 | 0.77 |
| Montana | $38,480 | $28,800 | $57,310 | 1,610 | 0.38 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 | $34,020 | $70,310 | 4,700 | 0.56 |
| Nevada | $37,310 | $29,140 | $48,340 | 26,680 | 2.08 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 | $36,500 | $62,400 | 2,450 | 0.43 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | $32,230 | $60,420 | 41,540 | 1.17 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 | $30,220 | $64,840 | 8,410 | 1.17 |
| New York | $44,240 | $35,650 | $60,580 | 134,700 | 1.68 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 | $29,260 | $56,020 | 29,830 | 0.73 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 | $31,150 | $64,390 | 1,310 | 0.37 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | $29,030 | $55,440 | 34,450 | 0.75 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 | $26,940 | $56,080 | 12,210 | 0.87 |
| Oregon | $45,500 | $36,500 | $58,510 | 12,200 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $30,050 | $54,830 | 43,610 | 0.87 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $21,840 | $22,890 | 26,100 | 3.37 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $31,200 | $48,520 | 3,160 | 0.76 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | $27,420 | $48,850 | 16,610 | 0.87 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 | $30,060 | $59,840 | 1,460 | 0.39 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | $29,310 | $51,680 | 27,690 | 1.02 |
| Texas | $35,980 | $26,950 | $50,740 | 106,210 | 0.91 |
| Utah | $42,700 | $31,270 | $56,620 | 7,310 | 0.51 |
| Vermont | $45,550 | $36,040 | $72,620 | 930 | 0.37 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,990 | $22,750 | $44,720 | 1,030 | 3.91 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | $30,990 | $73,060 | 34,870 | 1.03 |
| Washington | $47,100 | $37,720 | $68,390 | 25,800 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 | $20,800 | $47,370 | 5,200 | 0.9 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 | $30,410 | $54,680 | 12,030 | 0.5 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 | $30,350 | $67,680 | 1,130 | 0.49 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for security guards
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 156,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for security guards
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Security and Loss Prevention Services CIP 43.0109
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
- Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
- Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- FaceTime
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- McAfee
- NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
- Wireshark
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Armed Security Officer, Campus Security Officer (CSO), Custom Protection Officer (CPO), Customer Service Security Officer, Hotel Security Officer, Loss Prevention Officer, Safety and Security Officer, Security Agent, Security Guard, Security Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do security guards make?
The national median annual wage for security guards was $38,020 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $30,210 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,840. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do security guards need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is security guards a growing career?
BLS projects employment of security guards to change +0.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 156,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay security guards the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($64,210), Alaska ($47,480), Washington ($47,100). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.