389 metro areas

Security Guard Salary by City (2026)

Security guards earn the most in Idaho Falls, ID, an average of $68,270 a year, against $42,470 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Idaho Falls, ID ($72,310 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $42,470BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $68,270Idaho Falls, ID
Best after cost of living: $72,310Idaho Falls, ID
Metro areas: 389With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for security guards

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Idaho Falls, ID$68,270
Fairbanks, AK$60,110
Kennewick, WA$59,630
Burlington, VT$55,350
Anchorage, AK$54,540
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$54,430
Lexington Park, MD$52,870
Lynchburg, VA$52,560
Longview, WA$52,250
Seattle, WA$51,400

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for security guards
Item	Value
Idaho Falls, ID	$68,270
Fairbanks-College, AK	$60,110
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$59,630
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$55,350
Anchorage, AK	$54,540
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$54,430
Lexington Park, MD	$52,870
Lynchburg, VA	$52,560
Longview-Kelso, WA	$52,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$51,400

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Idaho Falls, ID$68,270 nominal$72,310
Kennewick, WA$59,630 nominal$59,580
Lynchburg, VA$52,560 nominal$58,820
Fairbanks, AK$60,110 nominal$58,240
Paducah, KY-IL$48,090 nominal$55,860
Burlington, VT$55,350 nominal$54,830
Jefferson City, MO$48,110 nominal$54,690
Springfield, MO$48,360 nominal$54,590
Longview, WA$52,250 nominal$53,570
Hinesville, GA$49,710 nominal$52,920

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for security guards
Item	Value
Idaho Falls, ID	$72,310
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$59,580
Lynchburg, VA	$58,820
Fairbanks-College, AK	$58,240
Paducah, KY-IL	$55,860
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$54,830
Jefferson City, MO	$54,690
Springfield, MO	$54,590
Longview-Kelso, WA	$53,570
Hinesville, GA	$52,920

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Security Guard salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Security Guard pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Idaho Falls, ID	$68,270	$39,060	$82,640	$72,310
2	Fairbanks, AK	$60,110	$41,310	$69,370	$58,240
3	Kennewick, WA	$59,630	$38,630	$69,990	$59,580
4	Burlington, VT	$55,350	$40,770	$62,550	$54,830
5	Anchorage, AK	$54,540	$37,710	$62,820	$51,740
6	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$54,430	$37,130	$62,960	$49,990
7	Lexington Park, MD	$52,870	$33,070	$62,610	$52,470
8	Lynchburg, VA	$52,560	$32,200	$62,610	$58,820
9	Longview, WA	$52,250	$35,980	$60,280	$53,570
10	Seattle, WA	$51,400	$41,410	$56,310	$46,250
11	San Luis Obispo, CA	$51,110	$36,440	$58,320	$47,060
12	San Jose, CA	$51,020	$43,490	$54,720	$46,200
13	Kahului, HI	$50,860	$39,310	$56,530	$46,490
14	Napa, CA	$50,400	$38,580	$56,220	$44,780
15	San Francisco, CA	$50,270	$42,020	$54,350	$43,480
16	Ithaca, NY	$49,800	$38,810	$55,200	$48,200
17	Hinesville, GA	$49,710	$35,380	$56,760	$52,920
18	New Haven, CT	$49,250	$36,130	$55,720	$47,100
19	Olympia, WA	$48,980	$37,110	$54,850	$47,250
20	Boulder, CO	$48,400	$36,500	$54,250	$46,010
21	Springfield, MO	$48,360	$32,090	$56,390	$54,590
22	Carson City, NV	$48,150	$33,880	$55,160	$49,070
23	Mount Vernon, WA	$48,130	$38,080	$53,080	$46,980
24	Jefferson City, MO	$48,110	$32,740	$55,660	$54,690
25	Paducah, KY-IL	$48,090	$29,350	$57,300	$55,860
26	Portland, OR-WA	$47,960	$39,810	$51,980	$45,490
27	Syracuse, NY	$47,920	$35,050	$54,270	$50,050
28	Santa Cruz, CA	$47,880	$36,800	$53,330	$43,570
29	Bremerton, WA	$47,740	$38,580	$52,250	$45,210
30	Barnstable Town, MA	$47,690	$37,380	$52,770	$48,490
31	Salem, OR	$47,470	$37,290	$52,460	$45,800
32	Kokomo, IN	$47,240	$33,130	$54,160	$52,690
33	Casper, WY	$47,110	$32,930	$54,100	$50,210
34	Rochester, MN	$47,050	$34,400	$53,270	$51,810
35	Denver, CO	$46,860	$37,840	$51,310	$44,300
36	Vallejo, CA	$46,860	$37,090	$51,690	$43,200
37	Bridgeport, CT	$46,740	$36,730	$51,650	$43,740
38	Kingston, NY	$46,720	$37,040	$51,500	$46,390
39	Albuquerque, NM	$46,630	$33,550	$53,080	$48,800
40	Utica, NY	$46,590	$35,150	$52,230	$50,270
41	Santa Rosa, CA	$46,490	$38,830	$50,270	$43,130
42	Logan, UT-ID	$46,470	$32,700	$53,250	$48,440
43	Elmira, NY	$46,400	$33,880	$52,560	$49,150
44	Bellingham, WA	$46,380	$37,480	$50,770	$44,880
45	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$46,380	$35,170	$51,900	$44,250
46	Omaha, NE-IA	$46,340	$36,190	$51,330	$50,420
47	Walla Walla, WA	$46,260	$37,590	$50,520	$46,960
48	New York, NY-NJ	$46,130	$35,760	$51,250	$40,980
49	Corvallis, OR	$46,050	$37,960	$50,040	$44,270
50	Odessa, TX	$45,950	$29,160	$54,200	$48,940
51	Manchester, NH	$45,740	$36,570	$50,250	$43,290
52	Kansas City, MO-KS	$45,700	$33,630	$51,650	$49,380
53	Decatur, AL	$45,680	$31,390	$52,730	$52,380
54	Boston, MA-NH	$45,640	$37,170	$49,820	$42,160
55	Spokane, WA	$45,610	$37,110	$49,820	$45,450
56	Pittsfield, MA	$45,490	$34,630	$50,840	$47,830
57	Charlottesville, VA	$45,300	$32,640	$51,540	$45,690
58	Rochester, NY	$45,260	$35,420	$50,110	$46,640
59	Albany, NY	$45,220	$35,760	$49,900	$45,420
60	Albany, OR	$45,200	$34,070	$50,670	$44,270
61	Kiryas Joel, NY	$45,160	$35,050	$50,130	$41,270
62	St. Louis, MO-IL	$45,050	$34,240	$50,360	$47,380
63	Santa Maria, CA	$44,970	$35,780	$49,500	$41,330
64	Grand Rapids, MI	$44,570	$34,380	$49,590	$46,650
65	Chambersburg, PA	$44,550	$34,130	$49,690	$47,070
66	Hartford, CT	$44,490	$35,480	$48,920	$43,300
67	St. George, UT	$44,450	$33,470	$49,860	$45,670
68	Chicago, IL-IN	$44,370	$35,880	$48,530	$42,830
69	Pueblo, CO	$44,350	$33,590	$49,630	$48,330
70	Des Moines, IA	$44,300	$32,450	$50,150	$48,310
71	Bend, OR	$44,280	$37,400	$47,670	$42,740
72	Modesto, CA	$44,260	$35,960	$48,360	$42,510
73	Midland, TX	$44,180	$28,910	$51,710	$46,130
74	Vineland, NJ	$44,160	$34,530	$48,920	$46,020
75	Santa Fe, NM	$44,140	$33,160	$49,520	$44,690
76	Medford, OR	$44,100	$34,820	$48,670	$43,480
77	Wenatchee, WA	$44,100	$37,150	$47,510	$42,460
78	Binghamton, NY	$44,010	$34,220	$48,840	$47,390
79	Colorado Springs, CO	$43,990	$34,740	$48,570	$43,680
80	Los Angeles, CA	$43,890	$36,500	$47,510	$38,650
81	Salinas, CA	$43,740	$36,130	$47,490	$40,110
82	Springfield, IL	$43,700	$34,420	$48,280	$47,120
83	Ann Arbor, MI	$43,620	$32,320	$49,170	$43,240
84	Victoria, TX	$43,620	$25,440	$52,560	$48,550
85	Fayetteville, NC	$43,580	$29,410	$50,560	$47,380
86	Oxnard, CA	$43,580	$35,670	$47,490	$39,430
87	Racine, WI	$43,530	$32,860	$48,800	$45,360
88	Staunton, VA	$43,510	$33,340	$48,510	$47,750
89	Buffalo, NY	$43,490	$34,510	$47,920	$45,380
90	Minot, ND	$43,470	$33,610	$48,340	$49,950
91	Springfield, MA	$43,430	$33,920	$48,090	$45,210
92	Redding, CA	$43,390	$35,010	$47,530	$43,100
93	Davenport, IA-IL	$43,350	$31,470	$49,210	$48,660
94	Yakima, WA	$43,350	$36,280	$46,840	$45,370
95	Cheyenne, WY	$43,330	$31,910	$48,940	$44,910
96	Peoria, IL	$43,220	$34,030	$47,760	$47,370
97	Bozeman, MT	$43,200	$30,890	$49,280	$42,140
98	Salt Lake City, UT	$43,180	$34,030	$47,690	$42,810
99	Sacramento, CA	$43,160	$36,570	$46,400	$40,460
100	San Diego, CA	$43,120	$36,440	$46,400	$38,540
101	Portland, ME	$43,080	$34,260	$47,420	$42,290
102	Waterloo, IA	$43,080	$32,120	$48,460	$49,480
103	Grand Junction, CO	$43,060	$35,530	$46,760	$45,100
104	Fort Collins, CO	$42,970	$35,650	$46,570	$42,490
105	Eugene, OR	$42,910	$35,380	$46,610	$42,250
106	Norwich, CT	$42,870	$34,010	$47,240	$42,680
107	Naples, FL	$42,850	$32,970	$47,720	$41,520
108	Watertown, NY	$42,830	$33,470	$47,440	$48,840
109	Wilmington, NC	$42,740	$29,180	$49,440	$44,330
110	Iowa City, IA	$42,680	$31,870	$48,010	$46,640
111	Madison, WI	$42,680	$31,780	$48,050	$43,870
112	Provo, UT	$42,680	$33,800	$47,070	$43,450
113	Baltimore, MD	$42,620	$33,950	$46,900	$40,790
114	Ames, IA	$42,600	$32,530	$47,550	$47,960
115	Hot Springs, AR	$42,580	$32,240	$47,670	$49,670
116	Hanford, CA	$42,540	$36,460	$45,530	$41,870
117	Stockton, CA	$42,470	$35,630	$45,840	$40,410
118	Glens Falls, NY	$42,410	$34,530	$46,300	$44,710
119	Spartanburg, SC	$42,410	$29,600	$48,710	$46,580
120	Milwaukee, WI	$42,390	$33,760	$46,630	$43,730
121	Urban Honolulu, HI	$42,390	$34,590	$46,220	$38,200
122	Green Bay, WI	$42,350	$33,030	$46,950	$45,500
123	Reno, NV	$42,310	$32,720	$47,030	$41,890
124	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$42,310	$31,600	$47,570	$48,940
125	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$42,290	$32,030	$47,340	$43,180
126	Waterbury, CT	$42,220	$36,030	$45,260	$42,310
127	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$42,180	$32,740	$46,840	$41,130
128	Richmond, VA	$42,160	$32,640	$46,840	$43,080
129	Bakersfield, CA	$42,140	$35,210	$45,550	$41,770
130	Riverside, CA	$42,100	$35,570	$45,300	$39,550
131	Grants Pass, OR	$42,080	$34,010	$46,070	$43,040
132	Akron, OH	$42,060	$30,260	$47,860	$45,050
133	Greenville, NC	$42,040	$30,100	$47,920	$47,560
134	Fargo, ND-MN	$42,020	$32,200	$46,840	$46,240
135	Midland, MI	$42,000	$30,530	$47,650	$45,690
136	Decatur, IL	$41,950	$32,390	$46,680	$47,440
137	Lansing, MI	$41,870	$31,160	$47,130	$44,080
138	Oklahoma City, OK	$41,850	$29,430	$47,990	$46,290
139	Rapid City, SD	$41,830	$32,180	$46,570	$46,920
140	Florence, SC	$41,810	$27,680	$48,780	$48,180
141	Roanoke, VA	$41,790	$31,570	$46,820	$44,640
142	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$41,750	$32,140	$46,470	$48,180
143	Trenton, NJ	$41,680	$32,780	$46,050	$40,400
144	Saginaw, MI	$41,640	$31,490	$46,630	$45,810
145	Rockford, IL	$41,620	$33,240	$45,740	$45,160
146	Michigan City, IN	$41,600	$29,700	$47,440	$45,370
147	El Centro, CA	$41,580	$34,940	$44,870	$43,690
148	Janesville, WI	$41,580	$31,760	$46,400	$44,370
149	Phoenix, AZ	$41,580	$34,360	$45,140	$40,250
150	Blacksburg, VA	$41,560	$30,100	$47,220	$44,830
151	Las Cruces, NM	$41,560	$28,930	$47,780	$46,070
152	Austin, TX	$41,500	$29,760	$47,300	$42,320
153	Dayton, OH	$41,480	$30,430	$46,920	$44,750
154	Atlantic City, NJ	$41,450	$34,300	$44,970	$41,930
155	Chico, CA	$41,430	$35,090	$44,550	$40,940
156	Lafayette, IN	$41,410	$29,600	$47,240	$44,320
157	Great Falls, MT	$41,390	$34,340	$44,870	$42,740
158	Sheboygan, WI	$41,330	$31,160	$46,320	$43,960
159	Sandusky, OH	$41,290	$29,330	$47,170	$46,250
160	Worcester, MA	$41,290	$34,150	$44,800	$40,270
161	Visalia, CA	$41,200	$34,490	$44,510	$41,270
162	Gettysburg, PA	$41,160	$31,030	$46,180	$43,150
163	Kalamazoo, MI	$41,160	$30,200	$46,570	$43,400
164	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$41,100	$33,610	$44,780	$41,810
165	Winston, NC	$41,100	$30,490	$46,320	$44,650
166	Greeley, CO	$41,080	$34,130	$44,490	$41,010
167	Killeen, TX	$41,080	$27,140	$47,960	$45,080
168	Kankakee, IL	$41,040	$32,950	$45,010	$42,580
169	Niles, MI	$41,040	$31,390	$45,800	$44,430
170	Lewiston, ME	$40,960	$33,380	$44,700	$43,240
171	Bloomington, IL	$40,930	$33,470	$44,620	$43,760
172	Amherst Town, MA	$40,870	$33,950	$44,280	$40,770
173	St. Cloud, MN	$40,850	$30,530	$45,930	$46,620
174	Billings, MT	$40,830	$30,260	$46,030	$43,660
175	Detroit, MI	$40,790	$31,450	$45,390	$40,670
176	Lincoln, NE	$40,790	$30,970	$45,610	$44,540
177	Flagstaff, AZ	$40,750	$33,800	$44,160	$40,620
178	Raleigh, NC	$40,750	$28,870	$46,610	$41,520
179	Lancaster, PA	$40,730	$31,510	$45,260	$41,450
180	Grand Island, NE	$40,680	$32,200	$44,840	$46,940
181	Rocky Mount, NC	$40,680	$28,450	$46,700	$46,220
182	York, PA	$40,680	$30,180	$45,840	$42,380
183	Merced, CA	$40,660	$34,860	$43,510	$41,370
184	Tyler, TX	$40,660	$28,430	$46,700	$44,120
185	Durham, NC	$40,640	$29,470	$46,160	$41,650
186	Fresno, CA	$40,640	$34,570	$43,640	$39,780
187	Indianapolis, IN	$40,640	$30,600	$45,610	$42,470
188	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$40,600	$31,680	$44,990	$44,800
189	Providence, RI-MA	$40,560	$32,610	$44,470	$39,850
190	Harrisburg, PA	$40,500	$32,390	$44,510	$41,050
191	Winchester, VA-WV	$40,440	$31,120	$45,010	$41,930
192	Cedar Rapids, IA	$40,350	$33,240	$43,870	$45,360
193	Fort Wayne, IN	$40,350	$29,430	$45,740	$43,590
194	Yuba City, CA	$40,350	$34,780	$43,080	$38,710
195	Eau Claire, WI	$40,310	$31,410	$44,680	$43,440
196	Boise City, ID	$40,290	$32,700	$44,030	$40,950
197	Columbus, OH	$40,270	$30,510	$45,090	$42,180
198	Traverse City, MI	$40,270	$33,650	$43,530	$43,130
199	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$40,210	$30,910	$44,800	$43,200
200	Ogden, UT	$40,210	$30,680	$44,890	$40,070
201	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$40,160	$30,390	$44,990	$42,110
202	Dallas, TX	$40,160	$28,430	$45,950	$38,960
203	Kenosha, WI	$40,120	$28,350	$45,910	$39,680
204	Topeka, KS	$40,100	$29,390	$45,360	$45,150
205	Warner Robins, GA	$40,100	$29,000	$45,590	$42,760
206	Joplin, MO-KS	$40,080	$30,350	$44,870	$46,760
207	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$40,080	$31,370	$44,370	$46,400
208	Scranton, PA	$40,080	$29,990	$45,050	$42,840
209	Slidell, LA	$40,080	$27,480	$46,280	$43,220
210	Farmington, NM	$40,060	$27,370	$46,320	$45,670
211	Cleveland, OH	$40,040	$29,450	$45,260	$42,630
212	Mankato, MN	$40,020	$29,640	$45,120	$44,000
213	Nashville, TN	$40,020	$31,490	$44,220	$41,540
214	Abilene, TX	$39,920	$28,080	$45,740	$44,180
215	Harrisonburg, VA	$39,920	$31,740	$43,950	$42,070
216	Jackson, MI	$39,920	$30,950	$44,320	$43,500
217	Allentown, PA-NJ	$39,890	$32,590	$43,490	$39,900
218	Salisbury, MD	$39,870	$32,970	$43,260	$41,700
219	Asheville, NC	$39,810	$30,100	$44,600	$41,250
220	Lewiston, ID-WA	$39,810	$32,550	$43,390	$43,670
221	Bismarck, ND	$39,770	$32,140	$43,530	$43,690
222	College Station, TX	$39,750	$26,060	$46,490	$43,700
223	Manhattan, KS	$39,750	$22,240	$48,380	$44,090
224	Champaign, IL	$39,730	$31,200	$43,930	$42,860
225	Fond du Lac, WI	$39,730	$30,720	$44,160	$43,350
226	Knoxville, TN	$39,730	$29,180	$44,930	$42,920
227	Springfield, OH	$39,710	$28,060	$45,450	$43,890
228	Wausau, WI	$39,710	$30,660	$44,160	$42,860
229	Baton Rouge, LA	$39,690	$27,710	$45,590	$43,720
230	Brownsville, TX	$39,690	$24,290	$47,260	$46,160
231	Reading, PA	$39,690	$30,990	$43,950	$40,890
232	Evansville, IN	$39,600	$29,450	$44,620	$43,270
233	Mansfield, OH	$39,580	$27,870	$45,340	$44,540
234	Charleston, SC	$39,520	$30,200	$44,120	$39,140
235	Pittsburgh, PA	$39,520	$31,180	$43,640	$41,740
236	Duluth, MN-WI	$39,500	$30,740	$43,830	$44,500
237	Appleton, WI	$39,480	$30,780	$43,760	$42,720
238	Clarksville, TN-KY	$39,480	$29,270	$44,510	$43,410
239	Columbus, IN	$39,460	$29,810	$44,200	$42,430
240	Bowling Green, KY	$39,440	$30,600	$43,800	$43,740
241	Dover, DE	$39,400	$31,870	$43,080	$40,410
242	Canton, OH	$39,370	$27,460	$45,260	$44,040
243	Elkhart, IN	$39,350	$29,990	$43,950	$43,560
244	Las Vegas, NV	$39,350	$31,680	$43,140	$39,270
245	Bangor, ME	$39,270	$32,160	$42,760	$40,690
246	Columbia, MO	$39,230	$30,660	$43,430	$43,860
247	Helena, MT	$39,230	$31,030	$43,260	$41,000
248	Huntsville, AL	$39,170	$27,390	$44,970	$42,090
249	Enid, OK	$39,100	$27,100	$45,010	$46,400
250	Hilton Head Island, SC	$39,020	$30,390	$43,260	$39,810
251	Wichita Falls, TX	$38,980	$25,850	$45,450	$43,550
252	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$38,920	$28,080	$44,240	$42,550
253	Tulsa, OK	$38,900	$28,450	$44,030	$43,600
254	Kingsport, TN-VA	$38,880	$29,060	$43,700	$44,980
255	Crestview, FL	$38,830	$31,370	$42,520	$40,020
256	South Bend, IN-MI	$38,830	$31,100	$42,660	$41,820
257	Atlanta, GA	$38,790	$30,510	$42,870	$38,770
258	Palm Bay, FL	$38,790	$30,890	$42,680	$38,790
259	Lebanon, PA	$38,750	$29,180	$43,450	$41,570
260	North Port, FL	$38,750	$32,050	$42,060	$37,840
261	Sierra Vista, AZ	$38,750	$33,130	$41,520	$43,420
262	La Crosse, WI-MN	$38,710	$30,760	$42,620	$42,180
263	Battle Creek, MI	$38,670	$31,550	$42,160	$42,710
264	Altoona, PA	$38,650	$28,850	$43,470	$43,180
265	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$38,630	$29,310	$43,220	$41,020
266	Oshkosh, WI	$38,580	$30,620	$42,520	$41,520
267	Prescott Valley, AZ	$38,520	$32,680	$41,390	$39,200
268	Bloomington, IN	$38,480	$30,330	$42,490	$40,470
269	Fayetteville, AR	$38,480	$30,370	$42,490	$42,120
270	Tucson, AZ	$38,420	$32,360	$41,390	$39,650
271	Sumter, SC	$38,360	$27,580	$43,660	$43,580
272	Charlotte, NC-SC	$38,330	$30,470	$42,220	$39,370
273	Port St. Lucie, FL	$38,330	$30,740	$42,060	$38,240
274	Yuma, AZ	$38,330	$30,640	$42,140	$41,350
275	Houston, TX	$38,270	$27,000	$43,800	$38,800
276	Dubuque, IA	$38,210	$30,240	$42,140	$43,750
277	Waco, TX	$38,150	$26,540	$43,870	$41,220
278	Tampa, FL	$38,060	$30,890	$41,600	$37,720
279	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$38,040	$29,790	$42,100	$44,190
280	Sherman, TX	$38,020	$26,020	$43,930	$40,550
281	Wichita, KS	$37,980	$28,040	$42,890	$42,700
282	Athens, GA	$37,940	$30,830	$41,450	$40,650
283	Miami, FL	$37,900	$31,010	$41,290	$33,200
284	Missoula, MT	$37,790	$29,640	$41,810	$39,180
285	Erie, PA	$37,730	$28,970	$42,040	$41,480
286	Gainesville, GA	$37,710	$29,060	$41,950	$38,970
287	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$37,690	$27,960	$42,470	$43,880
288	Terre Haute, IN	$37,690	$28,060	$42,410	$42,930
289	Texarkana, TX-AR	$37,690	$26,500	$43,200	$44,860
290	Toledo, OH	$37,690	$29,700	$41,620	$41,210
291	Little Rock, AR	$37,560	$28,750	$41,890	$42,030
292	Elizabethtown, KY	$37,540	$27,270	$42,620	$41,450
293	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$37,500	$31,550	$40,460	$39,850
294	Lexington, KY	$37,480	$30,060	$41,140	$40,350
295	Pocatello, ID	$37,400	$30,800	$40,640	$42,070
296	Lubbock, TX	$37,360	$26,810	$42,560	$40,910
297	Jonesboro, AR	$37,270	$30,040	$40,830	$43,400
298	Amarillo, TX	$37,170	$27,620	$41,870	$40,480
299	Flint, MI	$37,170	$30,220	$40,580	$39,950
300	Rome, GA	$37,170	$28,020	$41,700	$41,230
301	Jacksonville, FL	$37,150	$30,700	$40,310	$37,340
302	Macon, GA	$37,110	$25,190	$42,970	$41,920
303	Williamsport, PA	$37,000	$28,930	$40,960	$40,060
304	Punta Gorda, FL	$36,960	$30,330	$40,210	$36,770
305	Burlington, NC	$36,920	$28,520	$41,060	$39,620
306	Savannah, GA	$36,900	$28,770	$40,890	$38,760
307	Wildwood, FL	$36,880	$30,260	$40,120	$43,170
308	Jackson, TN	$36,840	$30,370	$40,040	$43,080
309	Homosassa Springs, FL	$36,800	$28,700	$40,770	$39,370
310	Orlando, FL	$36,750	$30,800	$39,670	$36,240
311	Twin Falls, ID	$36,750	$31,370	$39,420	$39,900
312	Greensboro, NC	$36,690	$28,310	$40,810	$39,510
313	Cleveland, TN	$36,650	$28,200	$40,830	$41,610
314	San Antonio, TX	$36,630	$27,270	$41,230	$38,670
315	Cape Coral, FL	$36,570	$30,310	$39,640	$35,730
316	Dalton, GA	$36,570	$27,640	$40,980	$40,700
317	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$36,570	$29,270	$40,160	$39,670
318	Lima, OH	$36,480	$23,840	$42,700	$40,680
319	Beaumont, TX	$36,440	$26,560	$41,310	$40,470
320	Jacksonville, NC	$36,440	$26,730	$41,230	$39,570
321	New Orleans, LA	$36,440	$26,940	$41,120	$39,350
322	Panama City, FL	$36,230	$30,100	$39,250	$37,240
323	Lakeland, FL	$36,210	$29,660	$39,440	$37,280
324	Columbus, GA-AL	$36,190	$26,850	$40,810	$40,530
325	Sebastian, FL	$36,170	$29,970	$39,230	$36,790
326	Greenville, SC	$36,090	$28,700	$39,730	$38,700
327	Columbia, SC	$36,000	$27,890	$40,000	$38,440
328	Hickory, NC	$36,000	$24,500	$41,680	$40,680
329	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$36,000	$27,440	$40,210	$40,710
330	Weirton, WV-OH	$35,880	$24,900	$41,290	$40,300
331	Pensacola, FL	$35,860	$29,810	$38,830	$36,700
332	Gainesville, FL	$35,820	$29,580	$38,880	$37,030
333	San Angelo, TX	$35,800	$26,560	$40,350	$38,720
334	Augusta, GA-SC	$35,780	$27,890	$39,640	$38,930
335	Anniston, AL	$35,760	$24,070	$41,520	$41,610
336	Pinehurst, NC	$35,710	$28,660	$39,190	$40,430
337	Owensboro, KY	$35,690	$29,000	$38,980	$40,280
338	Muncie, IN	$35,670	$27,520	$39,710	$40,470
339	Lawton, OK	$35,650	$26,210	$40,330	$41,480
340	Goldsboro, NC	$35,610	$27,480	$39,600	$40,250
341	Ocala, FL	$35,610	$28,700	$39,020	$37,390
342	Morgantown, WV	$35,570	$26,750	$39,920	$38,110
343	Shreveport, LA	$35,570	$25,330	$40,600	$41,960
344	Youngstown, OH	$35,570	$27,980	$39,310	$40,700
345	Deltona, FL	$35,440	$28,790	$38,710	$35,670
346	Brunswick, GA	$35,400	$26,060	$39,980	$40,360
347	Tallahassee, FL	$35,260	$28,810	$38,440	$37,540
348	Lawrence, KS	$35,240	$26,730	$39,440	$39,050
349	Dothan, AL	$35,110	$23,050	$41,060	$41,880
350	Corpus Christi, TX	$35,070	$25,520	$39,770	$37,840
351	Muskegon, MI	$35,030	$28,580	$38,210	$37,860
352	Alexandria, LA	$35,010	$25,850	$39,520	$40,860
353	Longview, TX	$34,820	$25,420	$39,440	$38,910
354	Valdosta, GA	$34,760	$24,070	$40,020	$39,380
355	State College, PA	$34,740	$25,920	$39,080	$35,900
356	Eagle Pass, TX	$34,690	$23,960	$39,980	$41,390
357	Lafayette, LA	$34,400	$26,370	$38,360	$39,450
358	Sebring, FL	$34,380	$28,750	$37,170	$37,180
359	Birmingham, AL	$34,340	$26,170	$38,380	$37,470
360	Morristown, TN	$34,170	$27,370	$37,520	$39,570
361	Auburn, AL	$33,950	$23,730	$38,980	$38,610
362	Wheeling, WV-OH	$33,900	$23,460	$39,040	$38,380
363	Lake Charles, LA	$33,780	$25,520	$37,860	$39,350
364	Mobile, AL	$33,510	$25,400	$37,500	$38,040
365	Myrtle Beach, SC	$33,430	$27,160	$36,500	$35,700
366	El Paso, TX	$33,400	$23,230	$38,420	$37,150
367	Montgomery, AL	$33,320	$24,750	$37,540	$37,150
368	Parkersburg, WV	$33,220	$23,630	$37,940	$38,150
369	Johnstown, PA	$33,200	$24,560	$37,460	$38,640
370	Florence, AL	$33,090	$25,170	$37,000	$39,010
371	Daphne, AL	$33,010	$25,630	$36,650	$34,860
372	Bay City, MI	$32,760	$26,580	$35,820	$35,640
373	Hattiesburg, MS	$32,610	$25,080	$36,320	$37,210
374	Tuscaloosa, AL	$32,610	$23,670	$37,020	$37,170
375	Albany, GA	$32,180	$23,130	$36,630	$36,710
376	Gulfport, MS	$31,840	$25,190	$35,130	$35,380
377	Gadsden, AL	$31,700	$23,670	$35,650	$37,010
378	Jackson, MS	$31,620	$23,400	$35,650	$35,510
379	Laredo, TX	$31,620	$23,050	$35,840	$36,360
380	Hammond, LA	$31,430	$22,150	$36,000	$37,210
381	Johnson City, TN	$31,370	$27,290	$33,360	$35,680
382	McAllen, TX	$31,280	$23,360	$35,190	$36,420
383	Houma, LA	$30,830	$21,550	$35,380	$36,230
384	Charleston, WV	$26,890	$20,780	$29,910	$30,310
385	Arecibo, PR	$23,550	$21,840	$24,380	N/A
386	Ponce, PR	$23,440	$21,840	$24,230	N/A
387	Mayaguez, PR	$23,300	$21,840	$24,020	N/A
388	Aguadilla, PR	$22,800	$21,840	$23,250	N/A
389	San Juan, PR	$22,510	$21,840	$22,840	N/A

More on security guards

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Security Guard salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays security guards the most?

Idaho Falls, ID, where the average (mean) wage is $68,270 a year, followed by Fairbanks, AK ($60,110), Kennewick, WA ($59,630), Burlington, VT ($55,350). The national mean is $42,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do security guards earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Idaho Falls, ID ($72,310 at national prices, $68,270 nominal), Kennewick, WA ($59,580 at national prices, $59,630 nominal), Lynchburg, VA ($58,820 at national prices, $52,560 nominal).

How much do security guards make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $46,130; Los Angeles, CA: $43,890; Chicago, IL-IN: $44,370; Dallas, TX: $40,160; Houston, TX: $38,270 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do security guards earn the least?

Of the 389 metro areas with their own estimate, San Juan, PR has the lowest mean wage, $22,510.