Security Guard Salary by State (2026): What Guards Really Earn

Security guard pay varies more than most people expect. The same job can pay half again as much in one state as in another, and the industry you work in can matter as much as the post itself. This guide puts the official numbers in one place: national pay, pay in every state, which settings pay more, and what the data can and cannot tell you about armed work.

How this guide was built: This is a research-based guide, not a survey of our own. Every wage figure comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates for May 2025, the most recent BLS has published, for security guards (occupation code 33-9032). The estimates come from employers, do not include self-employed workers, and are not adjusted for cost of living. BLS calculates annual pay as hourly pay times 2,080 hours. Figures were checked against BLS on November 5, 2026. Your own pay will depend on your employer, shift, post and contract.

Watch: what security guards really earn

Prefer to watch? In this video, under a minute and a half long, Yair Arad walks through the official numbers in this guide: the national median, how much your state and employer change your pay, what the data says about armed work, and the jump to supervisor.

Narrated by an AI avatar of Yair Arad in his own cloned voice, from this guide. Pay figures are BLS estimates for May 2025, not a promise of earnings. Scenes marked “Dramatized” are illustrations, not real footage.

Picks for guards who want to move up

Pay grows mostly with your setting, location and role, but a few inexpensive tools help you do the job well and prepare for the next step. We have not tested these products; they are chosen for their purpose and the specifications listed by their sellers.

For a complete kit, see our security guard equipment list, our guide to security guard boots and our duty flashlight guide.

Security guard pay nationally

BLS counted 1,283,470 security guards in May 2025. The average (mean) wage was $20.42 an hour, or $42,470 a year. The average is higher than the median because a smaller group of well-paid guards pulls it up, so the median is the better guide to typical pay.

Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th (lowest-paid 10% earn less)	$14.52	$30,210
25th	$16.93	$35,210
50th (median)	$18.28	$38,020
75th	$22.21	$46,200
90th (highest-paid 10% earn more)	$28.29	$58,840

You may also see $38,050 a year ($18.29 an hour) quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. That figure combines security guards with gambling surveillance officers, so it is slightly different from the security-guard-only figures used here.

Security guard salary by state

The table lists the median hourly and annual wage for security guards in every state and the District of Columbia, along with how many guards each employs. Select a state to see its licensing requirements, or start with our security guard license requirements by state.

State	Median hourly	Median annual	Guards employed
Alabama	$16.21	$33,720	15,210
Alaska	$22.83	$47,480	2,100
Arizona	$18.41	$38,290	29,820
Arkansas	$17.20	$35,770	6,390
California	$20.79	$43,240	199,480
Colorado	$21.71	$45,150	16,890
Connecticut	$19.19	$39,920	12,100
Delaware	$17.48	$36,360	3,430
District of Columbia	$30.87	$64,210	15,880
Florida	$17.26	$35,900	95,370
Georgia	$16.82	$34,980	36,210
Hawaii	$20.59	$42,820	10,160
Idaho	$18.41	$38,300	3,750
Illinois	$18.98	$39,490	53,830
Indiana	$17.54	$36,490	19,930
Iowa	$17.83	$37,080	6,890
Kansas	$17.83	$37,080	7,150
Kentucky	$17.03	$35,420	13,580
Louisiana	$15.50	$32,240	17,210
Maine	$18.80	$39,100	1,930
Maryland	$18.37	$38,220	27,670
Massachusetts	$21.48	$44,670	23,930
Michigan	$17.83	$37,080	25,240
Minnesota	$20.86	$43,380	14,440
Mississippi	$14.03	$29,180	10,160
Missouri	$19.42	$40,390	18,630
Montana	$18.50	$38,480	1,610
Nebraska	$19.15	$39,840	4,700
Nevada	$17.94	$37,310	26,680
New Hampshire	$21.73	$45,200	2,450
New Jersey	$18.69	$38,880	41,540
New Mexico	$20.83	$43,320	8,410
New York	$21.27	$44,240	134,700
North Carolina	$16.83	$35,010	29,830
North Dakota	$18.90	$39,310	1,310
Ohio	$17.20	$35,770	34,450
Oklahoma	$17.44	$36,270	12,210
Oregon	$21.88	$45,500	12,200
Pennsylvania	$17.81	$37,050	43,610
Rhode Island	$17.76	$36,940	3,160
South Carolina	$17.05	$35,460	16,610
South Dakota	$17.86	$37,150	1,460
Tennessee	$17.31	$36,000	27,690
Texas	$17.30	$35,980	106,210
Utah	$20.53	$42,700	7,310
Vermont	$21.90	$45,550	930
Virginia	$20.98	$43,640	34,870
Washington	$22.64	$47,100	25,800
West Virginia	$13.85	$28,800	5,200
Wisconsin	$18.00	$37,440	12,030
Wyoming	$18.85	$39,200	1,130
United States	$18.28	$38,020	1,283,470

Highest-paying states

The District of Columbia had the highest median by a wide margin. Among the states, these five had the highest medians:

• Alaska: $47,480 a year ($22.83 an hour)
• Washington: $47,100 a year ($22.64 an hour)
• Vermont: $45,550 a year ($21.90 an hour)
• Oregon: $45,500 a year ($21.88 an hour)
• New Hampshire: $45,200 a year ($21.73 an hour)

Lowest-paying states

• West Virginia: $28,800 a year ($13.85 an hour)
• Mississippi: $29,180 a year ($14.03 an hour)
• Louisiana: $32,240 a year ($15.50 an hour)
• Alabama: $33,720 a year ($16.21 an hour)
• Georgia: $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour)

Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia had a median above the national figure. Keep in mind that higher-paying places often cost more to live in; these figures are not adjusted for cost of living.

Where the most guards work

California employs the most security guards (199,480, median $43,240), followed by New York (134,700), Texas (106,210), Florida (95,370) and Illinois (53,830). The metro areas with the most guards are New York-Newark-Jersey City, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.

Which industries pay security guards more

Where you work matters as much as where you live. BLS reports these median annual wages for security guards in the largest employing industries:

Industry	Median annual wage
Health care and social assistance	$44,920
Educational services (state, local and private)	$44,250
Accommodation and food services	$37,640
Investigation, guard and armored car services	$37,350
Retail trade	$35,640

Most guards work for security companies: BLS counted 768,900 guards in the investigation and security services industry, far more than any other. Guards employed directly by health care and education organizations had noticeably higher medians than guards employed by security companies or retailers. BLS classifies guards by their employer’s industry, so a contract guard posted at a hospital is counted under security services, not health care.

A handful of smaller industries report much higher medians, including natural gas distribution ($94,030), aerospace product and parts manufacturing ($73,160) and electric power generation, transmission and distribution ($67,980). These are niche employers, so treat them as the top of the range rather than typical pay.

The metro and nonmetropolitan areas with the highest medians were Idaho Falls, Idaho ($78,680); northwestern South Carolina’s nonmetropolitan area ($61,530); Fairbanks-College, Alaska ($60,400); Kennewick-Richland, Washington ($54,670); and Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont ($51,170).

Do armed security guards make more?

There is no official national answer. BLS counts armed and unarmed guards together as one occupation, so it does not publish separate pay for armed guards. Salary websites publish armed-guard averages, but those are estimates from job postings or user reports, not official data. For the licensing side of the decision, see our guide to armed vs unarmed security guard work.

One official reference point comes from federal service contracts. The U.S. Department of Labor sets minimum wages for guards on covered federal contracts, using two classifications, Guard I and Guard II. In the wage determination for Washington, DC and nearby Maryland and Virginia counties (WD 2015-4281, revision 39, dated August 22, 2026), the rates are:

Federal contract classification	Minimum hourly wage
Guard I	$20.31
Guard II (higher classification)	$22.72

Note: Guard II is the higher of the two federal guard classifications. Whether a particular Guard II post is armed depends on the contract, so treat this as an example of how a higher guard grade is paid in one area, not as an official armed-guard rate.

What is clear is that armed work asks more of you. BLS notes that armed guards need weapons training, may be tested periodically on firearms, and face more stringent background checks and entry requirements. Requirements are set by each state, so check your state’s page before you plan around an armed license.

How guard pay compares with related security jobs

Occupation (BLS)	Median hourly	Median annual
Security guards	$18.28	$38,020
Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators	$20.85	$43,370
Private detectives and investigators	$24.62	$51,220
First-line supervisors of security workers	$26.90	$55,940
Transportation security screeners	$32.10	$66,770
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers	$36.64	$76,210

The step up to supervisor is the most direct path for many guards: the median supervisor earned $17,920 a year more than the median guard. For a look at where security work can lead, see our guide to security careers and our article on whether security work can lead to a higher-paying career.

Ways to earn more as a security guard

• Look at the setting, not just the post. Guards employed directly by health care and education organizations had higher medians than guards employed by security companies or retailers.
• Compare locations honestly. A higher state median helps only if it beats the higher living costs that often come with it.
• Aim for supervision. Supervisors of security workers had a median of $55,940, compared with $38,020 for guards.
• Consider armed credentials if they suit you and your state allows them. Armed posts require more training and screening; any pay difference depends on the employer and contract. Start with our armed vs unarmed guide.
• Know your overtime rights. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered non-exempt employees must be paid at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states add their own overtime rules.
• Explore specialized paths. Some guards move into executive protection, cruise ship security or maritime security, each with its own pay structure and trade-offs.

If you are just starting out, our guide on how to become a security guard covers licensing, training and your first job.

Job outlook for security guards

BLS projects employment of security guards and gambling surveillance officers to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations. Even so, it expects about 157,200 job openings each year on average, mostly to replace workers who change occupations or retire. BLS also notes that guards usually work shifts of about 8 hours on rotating schedules, night shifts are common, and most work full time.

Frequently asked questions

How much do security guards make an hour?

The median hourly wage for security guards was $18.28 in May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $14.52 an hour, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $28.29.

Which state pays security guards the most?

The District of Columbia had the highest median, at $64,210 a year ($30.87 an hour). Among the 50 states, Alaska was highest at $47,480, followed by Washington at $47,100.

Do armed security guards get paid more?

BLS does not publish separate pay for armed guards, so there is no official national figure. On federal service contracts in the Washington, DC area, the higher Guard II classification has a minimum of $22.72 an hour, compared with $20.31 for Guard I, but whether a post is armed depends on the contract.

How much do new security guards make?

BLS does not publish pay by experience. As a reference point, the lowest-paid 10 percent of guards nationally earned less than $30,210 a year ($14.52 an hour) in May 2025, and pay in your state may be higher or lower.

Are security guard jobs in demand?

BLS expects about 157,200 openings a year for security guards and gambling surveillance officers from 2025 to 2035, even though overall employment is projected to grow only 1 percent.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS Profiles, Security Guards (33-9032), May 2025
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS state and national estimates, May 2025
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers (last modified August 27, 2026)
• SAM.gov: Service Contract Act Wage Determination 2015-4281, Revision 39 (August 22, 2026)
• U.S. Department of Labor: Overtime Pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act

Wage data verified against BLS and SAM.gov on November 5, 2026. Pay figures are statistical estimates and change each year.

How we research and check our guides: see our Editorial Policy.

Pay data disclaimer: The wages in this guide are published government estimates, provided for general information only. They are not a job offer, a promise of earnings, or financial advice. Actual pay depends on the employer, location, contract, shift and your qualifications. Overtime and wage laws vary by state and change over time; for questions about your own pay, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor.