Security Guards Salary in the US
A security guards earns a national median of $38,020 a year (mean $42,470) — BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked #756 of 825.
How much does a security guards earn in the US?
A security guards in the United States earns a median of $38,020 a year (mean $42,470), per BLS OEWS May 2025. That is 25% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. About 1,283,470 people work in this occupation (SOC 33-9032), ranked #756 of 825 by national median pay. Updated annually from BLS OEWS.
Median
$38,020
per year
Mean
$42,470
per year
Employment
1,283,470
US workers
National rank
#756
of 825 by median
What a security guards earns in the US
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 national estimates, a security guards (SOC 33-9032) earns a median annual wage of $38,020 and a mean (average) of $42,470. The median is the midpoint — half of security guards earn more and half earn less — and is 25% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. The mean is higher than the median when a minority of very high earners pull the average up.
Note: BLS top-codes any annual wage at or above $239,200/year, so occupations at that ceiling share the same figure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary for a security guards in the US?
- The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for security guards is $38,020, and the mean (average) is $42,470. The median is the midpoint — half of security guards earn more and half earn less.
- How does security guards pay compare to the US average?
- At $38,020, a security guards earns 25% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.
- How many security guards are employed in the US?
- BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 1,283,470 security guards employed nationally (SOC 33-9032), across all industries.
- Where does this security guards salary data come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 33-9032. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.
Compare nearby occupations
- Barbers$38,210
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,180
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Tour and Travel Guides$38,120
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers$38,100
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$38,020
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers$37,800
- Passenger Attendants$37,720
- Tire Repairers and Changers$37,710
- Cooks, All Other$37,690
Find security guards jobs with salary ranges
GeraJobs lists live US vacancies with employer-stated salary ranges — see which security guards roles pay above the BLS benchmark.
Data source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) · May 2025 national estimates · SOC 33-9032 · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)
Published verbatim by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-27. ← All US salaries