Security Guards pay in the United States
Goes furthest in District of Columbia
·Protective Service·1.3M jobs
Figures from US Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics
$18.28/hr median
1,283,470 employed
+1% to 2035
37% AI exposure
High school diploma or equivalent
54 states reported
and more...
What this work is
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
Where the money actually goes furthest
District of Columbia pays the most both before and after cost of living — $64,210, worth $58,425 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $30.87/hr | $64,210 | $58,425 | $61,385 | 15,880 |
| New Mexico | $20.83/hr | $43,320 | $46,979 | $42,300 | 8,410 |
| Vermont | $21.90/hr | $45,550 | $46,498 | $44,258 | 930 |
| Alaska | $22.83/hr | $47,480 | $46,385 | $47,480 | 2,100 |
| Missouri | $19.42/hr | $40,390 | $44,472 | $39,348 | 18,630 |
| Nebraska | $19.15/hr | $39,840 | $44,217 | $38,663 | 4,700 |
| North Dakota | $18.90/hr | $39,310 | $44,188 | $39,310 | 1,310 |
| Oregon | $21.88/hr | $45,500 | $44,020 | $42,059 | 12,200 |
| Washington | $22.64/hr | $47,100 | $44,014 | $47,100 | 25,800 |
| Minnesota | $20.86/hr | $43,380 | $43,987 | $41,838 | 14,440 |
| Colorado | $21.71/hr | $45,150 | $43,813 | $43,851 | 16,890 |
| New Hampshire | $21.73/hr | $45,200 | $43,390 | $45,200 | 2,450 |
| Utah | $20.53/hr | $42,700 | $43,192 | $40,757 | 7,310 |
| Virginia | $20.98/hr | $43,640 | $43,165 | $41,876 | 34,870 |
| Wyoming | $18.85/hr | $39,200 | $42,291 | $39,200 | 1,130 |
| Iowa | $17.83/hr | $37,080 | $42,251 | $36,225 | 6,890 |
| Massachusetts | $21.48/hr | $44,670 | $42,237 | $42,436 | 23,930 |
| South Dakota | $17.86/hr | $37,150 | $41,934 | $37,150 | 1,460 |
| Oklahoma | $17.44/hr | $36,270 | $41,290 | $35,037 | 12,210 |
| Kansas | $17.83/hr | $37,080 | $41,167 | $35,299 | 7,150 |
| Arkansas | $17.20/hr | $35,770 | $41,143 | $34,551 | 6,390 |
| New York | $21.27/hr | $44,240 | $40,993 | $42,411 | 134,700 |
| Montana | $18.50/hr | $38,480 | $40,655 | $37,324 | 1,610 |
| Maine | $18.80/hr | $39,100 | $40,288 | $37,679 | 1,930 |
| Idaho | $18.41/hr | $38,300 | $40,108 | $37,043 | 3,750 |
| Wisconsin | $18.00/hr | $37,440 | $39,787 | $36,506 | 12,030 |
| Illinois | $18.98/hr | $39,490 | $39,505 | $37,672 | 53,830 |
| Kentucky | $17.03/hr | $35,420 | $39,285 | $34,129 | 13,580 |
| Tennessee | $17.31/hr | $36,000 | $39,185 | $36,000 | 27,690 |
| Indiana | $17.54/hr | $36,490 | $39,097 | $35,425 | 19,930 |
| California | $20.79/hr | $43,240 | $39,053 | $42,349 | 199,480 |
| Hawaii | $20.59/hr | $42,820 | $38,944 | $40,970 | 10,160 |
| Ohio | $17.20/hr | $35,770 | $38,557 | $35,502 | 34,450 |
| Michigan | $17.83/hr | $37,080 | $38,536 | $35,742 | 25,240 |
| Connecticut | $19.19/hr | $39,920 | $38,529 | $38,373 | 12,100 |
| Arizona | $18.41/hr | $38,290 | $38,031 | $37,697 | 29,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.81/hr | $37,050 | $37,972 | $35,912 | 43,610 |
| Alabama | $16.21/hr | $33,720 | $37,964 | $32,224 | 15,210 |
| South Carolina | $17.05/hr | $35,460 | $37,824 | $34,844 | 16,610 |
| Nevada | $17.94/hr | $37,310 | $37,317 | $37,310 | 26,680 |
| North Carolina | $16.83/hr | $35,010 | $37,114 | $34,063 | 29,830 |
| Texas | $17.30/hr | $35,980 | $37,069 | $35,980 | 106,210 |
| Louisiana | $15.50/hr | $32,240 | $36,549 | $31,647 | 17,210 |
| Delaware | $17.48/hr | $36,360 | $36,429 | $34,908 | 3,430 |
| Maryland | $18.37/hr | $38,220 | $36,413 | $36,585 | 27,670 |
| Georgia | $16.82/hr | $34,980 | $36,327 | $33,787 | 36,210 |
| Rhode Island | $17.76/hr | $36,940 | $36,116 | $35,950 | 3,160 |
| New Jersey | $18.69/hr | $38,880 | $35,732 | $38,201 | 41,540 |
| Florida | $17.26/hr | $35,900 | $34,716 | $35,900 | 95,370 |
| Mississippi | $14.03/hr | $29,180 | $33,559 | $27,997 | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $13.85/hr | $28,800 | $32,178 | $28,007 | 5,200 |
| Virgin Islands | $15.38/hr | $31,990 | Not published | Not published | 1,030 |
| Guam | $10.62/hr | $22,090 | Not published | Not published | 800 |
| Puerto Rico | $10.50/hr | $21,840 | Not published | Not published | 26,100 |
National median for comparison: $38,020. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$38,020/year
$18.28/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
$19,560$74,200
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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