What is the typical salary range for a Security Guard?

Pay typically falls between $36,500 and $48,000 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Security Guard Salary: $44,000 Average

Home › Protective Service › Security Guard

Average base salary

$44,000 / year

≈ $3,650 per month · $21.15 per hour

Location

25th percentile
$36,500Average
$44,00075th percentile
$48,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

About this role

Security Guard is a professional role in the Protective Service job family, focused on Security Guard work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Security Guard pays 35% below the average across 24 roles in the Protective Service job family (family average $68,000).

Similar-paying roles in Protective Service

Crossing Guards and Flaggers$45,000

Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators$47,000

Protective Service Workers, All Other$50,000

School Bus Monitor$36,500

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,500

Parking Enforcement Worker$53,000

First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$62,000

Private Detectives and Investigators$62,500

Bailiff$64,000

Correctional Officers and Jailers$66,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Security Guard make?

The average base salary for a Security Guard in the United States is $44,000 per year, or about $21.15 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $36,500 and $48,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Protective Service roles?

The Protective Service job family averages $68,000 across 24 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

Explore Market Data Our Methodology