Security Guards Salary by State
The national median pay for security guards is $38,020 a year. By state, it ranges from $28,800 in West Virginia to $64,210 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $30,210
- 25th percentile
- $35,210
- Median
- $38,020
- 75th percentile
- $46,200
- Top 10%
- $58,840
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 1,283,470 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,210 | +69% | $36,600 | $78,910 | 15,880 |
| 2 | Alaska | $47,480 | +25% | $36,520 | $76,350 | 2,100 |
| 3 | Washington | $47,100 | +24% | $37,720 | $68,390 | 25,800 |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,550 | +20% | $36,040 | $72,620 | 930 |
| 5 | Oregon | $45,500 | +20% | $36,500 | $58,510 | 12,200 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $45,200 | +19% | $36,500 | $62,400 | 2,450 |
| 7 | Colorado | $45,150 | +19% | $36,160 | $57,360 | 16,890 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $44,670 | +17% | $34,830 | $55,800 | 23,930 |
| 9 | New York | $44,240 | +16% | $35,650 | $60,580 | 134,700 |
| 10 | Virginia | $43,640 | +15% | $30,990 | $73,060 | 34,870 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $43,380 | +14% | $33,760 | $65,090 | 14,440 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $43,320 | +14% | $30,220 | $64,840 | 8,410 |
| 13 | California | $43,240 | +14% | $36,010 | $57,880 | 199,480 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $42,820 | +13% | $35,140 | $58,840 | 10,160 |
| 15 | Utah | $42,700 | +12% | $31,270 | $56,620 | 7,310 |
| 16 | Missouri | $40,390 | +6% | $31,040 | $68,860 | 18,630 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $39,920 | +5% | $34,950 | $59,220 | 12,100 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $39,840 | +5% | $34,020 | $70,310 | 4,700 |
| 19 | Illinois | $39,490 | +4% | $35,520 | $63,950 | 53,830 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $39,310 | +3% | $31,150 | $64,390 | 1,310 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $39,200 | +3% | $30,350 | $67,680 | 1,130 |
| 22 | Maine | $39,100 | +3% | $31,470 | $51,530 | 1,930 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $38,880 | +2% | $32,230 | $60,420 | 41,540 |
| 24 | Montana | $38,480 | +1% | $28,800 | $57,310 | 1,610 |
| 25 | Idaho | $38,300 | +1% | $32,030 | $78,680 | 3,750 |
| 26 | Arizona | $38,290 | +1% | $31,910 | $52,450 | 29,820 |
| 27 | Maryland | $38,220 | +1% | $33,700 | $64,320 | 27,670 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $37,440 | −2% | $30,410 | $54,680 | 12,030 |
| 29 | Nevada | $37,310 | −2% | $29,140 | $48,340 | 26,680 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $37,150 | −2% | $30,060 | $59,840 | 1,460 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,080 | −2% | $30,350 | $59,290 | 6,890 |
| 32 | Kansas | $37,080 | −2% | $29,590 | $51,890 | 7,150 |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,080 | −2% | $29,790 | $54,770 | 25,240 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $37,050 | −3% | $30,050 | $54,830 | 43,610 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $36,940 | −3% | $31,200 | $48,520 | 3,160 |
| 36 | Indiana | $36,490 | −4% | $29,850 | $59,990 | 19,930 |
| 37 | Delaware | $36,360 | −4% | $32,450 | $73,390 | 3,430 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $36,270 | −5% | $26,940 | $56,080 | 12,210 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $36,000 | −5% | $29,310 | $51,680 | 27,690 |
| 40 | Texas | $35,980 | −5% | $26,950 | $50,740 | 106,210 |
| 41 | Florida | $35,900 | −6% | $29,470 | $46,090 | 95,370 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $35,770 | −6% | $28,870 | $57,410 | 6,390 |
| 43 | Ohio | $35,770 | −6% | $29,030 | $55,440 | 34,450 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $35,460 | −7% | $27,420 | $48,850 | 16,610 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $35,420 | −7% | $28,450 | $50,800 | 13,580 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $35,010 | −8% | $29,260 | $56,020 | 29,830 |
| 47 | Georgia | $34,980 | −8% | $29,060 | $48,590 | 36,210 |
| 48 | Alabama | $33,720 | −11% | $23,110 | $45,640 | 15,210 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,240 | −15% | $23,660 | $49,040 | 17,210 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $29,180 | −23% | $21,690 | $42,580 | 10,160 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $28,800 | −24% | $20,800 | $47,370 | 5,200 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Security Guards salary questions
Which state pays security guards the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $64,210 a year (+69% vs. the national median of $38,020). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays security guards the least?
West Virginia, with a median of $28,800 a year (−24% vs. national).
Where do most security guards work?
California has the most jobs, about 199,480, with a median of $43,240.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.