Quick answer
Security Guards in California earned a median of $43,240 a year ($20.79 an hour) in May 2025, 14% above the national median of $38,020; 199,480 were employed there, ranking #13 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $43,240 | $38,020 |
| Mean annual wage | $44,920 | $42,470 |
| Median hourly wage | $20.79 | $18.28 |
| 10th percentile | $36,010 | $30,210 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $35,210 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $46,200 |
| 90th percentile | $57,880 | $58,840 |
| Employment | 199,480 | 1,283,470 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 10.952 | — |
| Location quotient | 1.33 | 1.00 |
Related
- Security Guards salary in Alaska (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Arizona (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Arkansas (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Colorado (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Connecticut (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Delaware (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in District of Columbia (May 2025)
- Security Guards salary in Florida (May 2025)
Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.