Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Security Guards
Find out which cities offer the best salaries for Security Guards. Data based on 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.
Highest Paying City
$49,015
San Jose, CA
National Average
$34,837
Across 50 metros
Top 10 Minimum
$37,223
To rank in top 10
| Rank | City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA Cost of Living: 179.8 | $49,015 | $23.56/hr | +40.7% | View Details |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA Cost of Living: 169.3 | $45,739 | $21.99/hr | +31.3% | View Details |
| 3 | New York, NY Cost of Living: 128.7 | $42,535 | $20.45/hr | +22.1% | View Details |
| 4 | Seattle, WA Cost of Living: 149.6 | $41,532 | $19.97/hr | +19.2% | View Details |
| 5 | Washington, DC Cost of Living: 140.1 | $40,544 | $19.49/hr | +16.4% | View Details |
| 6 | Boston, MA Cost of Living: 148.4 | $40,121 | $19.29/hr | +15.2% | View Details |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living: 146.3 | $39,159 | $18.83/hr | +12.4% | View Details |
| 8 | San Diego, CA Cost of Living: 142.8 | $37,382 | $17.97/hr | +7.3% | View Details |
| 9 | Portland, OR Cost of Living: 118.8 | $37,367 | $17.96/hr | +7.3% | View Details |
| 10 | Chicago, IL Cost of Living: 105.4 | $37,223 | $17.90/hr | +6.8% | View Details |
All 50 Cities Ranked
San Jose, CA
$49k
/year
San Francisco, CA
$46k
/year
New York, NY
$43k
/year
Seattle, WA
$42k
/year
Washington, DC
$41k
/year
Boston, MA
$40k
/year
Los Angeles, CA
$39k
/year
San Diego, CA
$37k
/year
Portland, OR
$37k
/year
Chicago, IL
$37k
/year
Austin, TX
$37k
/year
Denver, CO
$36k
/year
Minneapolis, MN
$36k
/year
Raleigh, NC
$36k
/year
Atlanta, GA
$35k
/year
Sacramento, CA
$35k
/year
Dallas, TX
$35k
/year
Hartford, CT
$35k
/year
Miami, FL
$35k
/year
Riverside, CA
$35k
/year
Phoenix, AZ
$35k
/year
Providence, RI
$35k
/year
Philadelphia, PA
$35k
/year
Baltimore, MD
$34k
/year
Salt Lake City, UT
$34k
/year
Detroit, MI
$34k
/year
Tampa, FL
$34k
/year
Houston, TX
$33k
/year
Charlotte, NC
$33k
/year
Jacksonville, FL
$33k
/year
Las Vegas, NV
$33k
/year
Nashville, TN
$33k
/year
Indianapolis, IN
$33k
/year
Cincinnati, OH
$33k
/year
St. Louis, MO
$33k
/year
Cleveland, OH
$33k
/year
San Antonio, TX
$33k
/year
Louisville, KY
$32k
/year
Richmond, VA
$32k
/year
Orlando, FL
$32k
/year
Columbus, OH
$32k
/year
Milwaukee, WI
$32k
/year
Pittsburgh, PA
$32k
/year
Kansas City, MO
$31k
/year
Oklahoma City, OK
$31k
/year
Memphis, TN
$31k
/year
New Orleans, LA
$31k
/year
Tucson, AZ
$30k
/year
Birmingham, AL
$30k
/year
El Paso, TX
$29k
/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What city pays Security Guards the most?
San Jose, CA pays Security Guards the most, with a median salary of $49,015 per year.
What is the average Security Guard salary across all cities?
The average Security Guard salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $34,837 per year.
Should I consider cost of living when comparing salaries?
Yes! Cities like San Francisco and New York pay higher salaries, but also have higher costs of living. A $80,000 salary in a city with 90 cost of living index has more purchasing power than$100,000 in a city with 150 cost of living index.