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Security Guard

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Home › Protective Service › Security Guard › Massachusetts
Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Massachusetts
$46,500 / year
≈ $3,900 per month · $22.36 per hour

BLS May 2025 state data for Massachusetts · median $46,000
25th percentile
$39,000Average
$46,50075th percentile
$47,500
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.
Security Guard salary by state
Alabama$36,000
Alaska$56,000
Arizona$42,500
Arkansas$39,500
California$46,500
Colorado$47,500
Connecticut$47,000
Delaware$45,500
District of Columbia$63,000
Florida$39,000
Georgia$39,000
Hawaii$45,000
Idaho$45,500
Illinois$46,000
Indiana$42,000
Iowa$43,500
Kansas$42,000
Kentucky$40,000
Louisiana$37,500
Maine$43,000
Maryland$46,000
Massachusetts$46,500
Michigan$42,000
Minnesota$47,000
Mississippi$33,000
Missouri$46,500
Montana$43,500
Nebraska$46,500
Nevada$41,000
New Hampshire$49,500
New Jersey$45,000
New Mexico$48,000
New York$48,000
North Carolina$40,500
North Dakota$44,500
Ohio$41,500
Oklahoma$41,000
Oregon$48,000
Pennsylvania$41,500
Rhode Island$41,500
South Carolina$38,500
South Dakota$41,500
Tennessee$40,000
Texas$40,000
Utah$44,500
Vermont$52,500
Virginia$48,500
Washington$52,500
West Virginia$32,500
Wisconsin$43,000
Wyoming$44,000

Total cash compensation

Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.

Base salary
$44,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,500
7.9% of base
Total target cash
$47,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles: 25th $2,000 50th $3,500 75th $5,500
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role

Security Guard is a professional role within the function in the Protective Service job family.

Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Security Guards do

Typical education: High School Diploma

  • Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
  • Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  • Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
  • Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
  • Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.

Top skills: Active Listening Monitoring Speaking Critical Thinking Coordination Social Perceptiveness

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Security Guard pay by experience level
Entry level$31,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$36,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$39,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$48,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$61,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
161,000
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Security Guard salary by industry
Administrative and Support Services

797,140 workers

$43,000

Investigation and Security Services

768,900 workers

$43,000

Educational Services

82,680 workers

$47,500

Elementary and Secondary Schools

58,300 workers

$48,000

Educational Services, Local Government Owned

56,580 workers

$48,000

Hospitals

54,830 workers

$49,000

General Merchandise Retailers

51,740 workers

$37,500

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals

49,340 workers

$49,000

Hospitals, Privately Owned

46,070 workers

$49,000

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

33,320 workers

$50,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status

Core duties

  • Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
  • Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  • Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
  • Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
  • Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.

FLSA classification (typical)

Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work

Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.

How this role compares

Security Guard pays 38% below the average across 28 roles in the Protective Service job family (family average $70,500).

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
Careers related to Security Guard
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$62,000
Transit and Railroad Police$95,000
Transportation Security Screener$66,500
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers$82,000
Parking Enforcement Worker$53,000
Public Safety Telecommunicator$58,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
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 $70,500 across 28 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.

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