Quick answer
The median annual wage for security guards in the US was $38,020 in May 2025 (mean $42,470), with 1,283,470 people employed, per BLS. Among states, District of Columbia paid the highest median ($64,210) and Puerto Rico the lowest ($21,840).
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 | $60,720 | 15880 |
| Alaska | $47,480 | $54,140 | 2100 |
| Washington | $47,100 | $50,770 | 25800 |
| Vermont | $45,550 | $50,770 | 930 |
| Oregon | $45,500 | $46,420 | 12200 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 | $47,850 | 2450 |
| Colorado | $45,150 | $45,870 | 16890 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 | $44,760 | 23930 |
| New York | $44,240 | $46,450 | 134700 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | $47,070 | 34870 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 | $45,460 | 14440 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 | $46,300 | 8410 |
| California | $43,240 | $44,920 | 199480 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 | $43,470 | 10160 |
| Utah | $42,700 | $43,050 | 7310 |
| Missouri | $40,390 | $45,100 | 18630 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 | $45,180 | 12100 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 | $45,000 | 4700 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | $44,240 | 53830 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 | $43,150 | 1310 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 | $42,660 | 1130 |
| Maine | $39,100 | $41,390 | 1930 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | $43,520 | 41540 |
| Montana | $38,480 | $42,270 | 1610 |
| Idaho | $38,300 | $44,100 | 3750 |
| Arizona | $38,290 | $40,950 | 29820 |
| Maryland | $38,220 | $44,530 | 27670 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 | $41,390 | 12030 |
| Nevada | $37,310 | $39,770 | 26680 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 | $40,250 | 1460 |
| Iowa | $37,080 | $42,220 | 6890 |
| Kansas | $37,080 | $40,350 | 7150 |
| Michigan | $37,080 | $40,640 | 25240 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $40,180 | 43610 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $40,320 | 3160 |
| Indiana | $36,490 | $40,660 | 19930 |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $43,750 | 3430 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 | $39,560 | 12210 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | $38,500 | 27690 |
| Texas | $35,980 | $38,550 | 106210 |
| Florida | $35,900 | $37,610 | 95370 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | $39,950 | 34450 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 | $38,300 | 6390 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | $37,060 | 16610 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 | $38,540 | 13580 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 | $39,090 | 29830 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | $37,890 | 36210 |
| Alabama | $33,720 | $34,680 | 15210 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 | $36,080 | 17210 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,990 | $32,610 | 1030 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 | $31,750 | 10160 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 | $31,320 | 5200 |
| Guam | $22,090 | $25,530 | 800 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | $22,590 | 26100 |
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Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.