The average salary for a security guard in the United States is around $31,470 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $31,470.
Wages typically start from $23,250 and go up to $50,040.
47% below national average Updated in 2021
Security guard earnings by seniority
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 medical administrative assistants but more than couriers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $37K |
| Customer service representative salary | $37K |
| Office clerk salary | $37K |
| Concierge salary | $35K |
| Hairdresser salary | $30K |
| Security guard salary | $31K |
| Tailor salary | $31K |
| Teller salary | $36K |
| Switchboard operator salary | $30K |
| Courier salary | $33K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)