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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
If you're considering this career, the geography of pay matters. The national median salary for Security Guards in 2026 is $40,736, with entry-level positions averaging $29,330 and senior roles reaching $57,845. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $74,200, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Security Guard sits at the intersection of Protective Services and Public Safety. Most professionals enter with High school diploma, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is on-site shift-based. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$45,150 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Security Guard in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $74,200 — $45,150 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($29,050). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Security Guards reveals a $28,515 spread from entry to senior. At $40,736, the median sits $39,631 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $29,330 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $57,845 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $69,300 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $29,283. That $40,017 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Security Guard in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $74,200 — $45,150 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($29,050). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Security Guard salary averages $29,330 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $29,330 | $40,736 | $57,845 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £16,121 | £22,390 | £31,794 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$24,137 | CA$33,524 | CA$47,605 |
| Australia | 13 | A$28,721 | A$39,891 | A$56,645 |
| Sweden | 24 | 174,497 kr | 242,357 kr | 344,147 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $35,400 | $49,166 | $69,816 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $34,209 | $47,513 | $67,468 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $34,020 | $47,250 | $67,095 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $31,500 | $43,750 | $62,125 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $31,122 | $43,225 | $61,380 |
| Washington | 8 | $30,524 | $42,394 | $60,199 |
| New York | 5 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Florida | 22 | $28,510 | $39,598 | $56,229 |
| Colorado | 11 | $28,018 | $38,914 | $55,257 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $27,972 | $38,850 | $55,167 |
| Nevada | 5 | $27,922 | $38,780 | $55,068 |
| Arizona | 12 | $27,783 | $38,588 | $54,794 |
| Oregon | 5 | $27,720 | $38,500 | $54,670 |
| Idaho | 3 | $27,636 | $38,383 | $54,504 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $27,418 | $38,080 | $54,074 |
| Utah | 4 | $27,342 | $37,975 | $53,925 |
| Virginia | 7 | $26,892 | $37,350 | $53,037 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $26,544 | $36,867 | $52,351 |
| Alaska | 1 | $26,460 | $36,750 | $52,185 |
| Illinois | 5 | $26,158 | $36,330 | $51,589 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $25,508 | $35,428 | $50,307 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $25,200 | $35,000 | $49,700 |
| Montana | 1 | $25,200 | $35,000 | $49,700 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $25,116 | $34,883 | $49,534 |
| Texas | 40 | $24,992 | $34,711 | $49,290 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $24,948 | $34,650 | $49,203 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $24,822 | $34,475 | $48,955 |
| Georgia | 6 | $24,738 | $34,358 | $48,789 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $24,696 | $34,300 | $48,706 |
| Kansas | 4 | $24,570 | $34,125 | $48,458 |
| Michigan | 6 | $24,486 | $34,008 | $48,292 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
| Maryland | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $23,940 | $33,250 | $47,215 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $23,940 | $33,250 | $47,215 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $23,310 | $32,375 | $45,973 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $23,184 | $32,200 | $45,724 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $22,869 | $31,763 | $45,103 |
| Missouri | 4 | $22,869 | $31,763 | $45,103 |
| Alabama | 5 | $22,781 | $31,640 | $44,929 |
| Indiana | 3 | $22,428 | $31,150 | $44,233 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $22,428 | $31,150 | $44,233 |
| Iowa | 2 | $22,176 | $30,800 | $43,736 |
| Ohio | 6 | $22,134 | $30,742 | $43,653 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $21,168 | $29,400 | $41,748 |
The state salary map for Security Guards: California at $49,166, Massachusetts at $47,513, Hawaii at $47,250 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($29,400), Ohio ($30,742), Iowa ($30,800) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $19,766.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($74,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $35,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $74,200 | 212 | $35,000 | $47,278 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $69,300 | 198 | $35,000 | $44,483 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $64,400 | 184 | $35,000 | $41,687 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $63,350 | 181 | $35,000 | $41,088 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $62,300 | 178 | $35,000 | $40,489 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $61,950 | 177 | $35,000 | $40,289 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $61,950 | 177 | $35,000 | $40,289 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $60,550 | 173 | $35,000 | $39,491 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $60,550 | 173 | $35,000 | $39,491 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $59,150 | 169 | $35,000 | $38,692 |
The $28,515 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Security Guard career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Public Safety sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Security Guards is $40,736 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $29,330, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $57,845.
The highest-paying city for Security Guards is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $74,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($74,200), Santa Clara ($69,300), Irvine ($64,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Security Guard salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $29,050. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Security Guards (10th percentile) average $29,330 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $53,424. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Security Guards average $57,845 nationally — $28,515 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Security Guards can earn up to $105,364.
The top-paying states for Security Guards are California ($49,166 median), Massachusetts ($47,513 median), Hawaii ($47,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Security Guard involves High school diploma. The field is in the Public Safety sector (Protective Services), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically on-site shift-based.
With a national median of $40,736 and representation across 288 metro areas, Security Guard offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $28,515 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.