Security Guards Salary in U.S.
SOC 33-9032 · National · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Security Guards in U.S. is $38,370 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $18.45 per hour. 1,241,770 people work as Security Guards in U.S.. Wages have grown 29% since 2019, when the median was $29,680.
Median Annual Salary
$38,370
Mean Annual
$42,890
Median Hourly
$18.45
Total Employed
1,241,770
Salary Distribution
$30k
10th
$35k
25th
$38k
Median
$47k
75th
$60k
90th
Salary by Industry
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Natural Gas Distribution | $94,160 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $91,510 |
| Rail Transportation | $82,690 |
| Rail Transportation | $82,690 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $82,680 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $79,530 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $76,750 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $72,400 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $71,720 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $70,750 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $70,750 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $68,820 |
| Utilities | $68,820 |
| Utilities | $68,820 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $68,100 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $67,830 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $67,260 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $65,910 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $65,590 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $63,820 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $63,820 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $63,020 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $62,600 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $61,350 |
| Gasoline Stations | $61,280 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $61,280 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $61,060 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $60,940 |
| Finance and Insurance | $60,270 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $60,220 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $58,870 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $58,540 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $58,520 |
| Residential Building Construction | $58,090 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $58,020 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $57,900 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $57,700 |
| Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | $57,470 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $57,460 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $57,360 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $57,020 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $56,770 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $55,920 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $55,710 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $55,380 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $54,910 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $54,880 |
| Engineering Services | $54,650 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $54,350 |
| Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | $54,190 |
| Legal Services | $54,060 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $53,630 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $53,570 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $53,370 |
| Religious Organizations | $53,050 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $53,040 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $53,020 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $52,940 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $52,800 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $52,330 |
| Insurance Carriers | $52,290 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $52,290 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $52,290 |
| Information | $52,250 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $52,180 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $52,170 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $51,980 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $51,980 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $51,980 |
| Land Subdivision | $51,250 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $50,910 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $50,910 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $50,810 |
| Water Transportation | $50,810 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $50,310 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $50,310 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $50,040 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $49,490 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $49,260 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $48,870 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $48,740 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $48,740 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $48,640 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $48,580 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $48,430 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $48,430 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $48,300 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $48,190 |
| Telecommunications | $47,930 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $47,910 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $47,840 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $47,760 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $47,570 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $47,570 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $47,540 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $47,540 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $47,520 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $47,470 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $47,470 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $47,430 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $47,370 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $47,280 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $47,270 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $47,240 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $47,110 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $47,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $47,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $47,090 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | $47,020 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $46,960 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $46,960 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $46,920 |
| Real Estate | $46,860 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $46,590 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $46,380 |
| Offices of Physicians | $46,210 |
| Office Administrative Services | $46,140 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $46,000 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $45,970 |
| Hospitals | $45,970 |
| Construction of Buildings | $45,970 |
| Construction | $45,970 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $45,660 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $45,650 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $45,630 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $45,540 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $45,310 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $45,180 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $45,090 |
| Other Personal Services | $44,970 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $44,530 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $44,520 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $44,310 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $44,310 |
| Utility System Construction | $44,190 |
| Educational Services | $44,090 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $44,080 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $44,080 |
| Manufacturing | $44,000 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | $43,980 |
| Urban Transit Systems | $43,930 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,770 |
| Publishing Industries | $43,760 |
| Software Publishers | $43,760 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $43,750 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $43,640 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $43,580 |
| Educational Services | $43,560 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $43,540 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $43,360 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | $43,260 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $43,230 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $43,210 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $43,030 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $43,010 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $43,000 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $42,860 |
| Special Food Services | $42,810 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $42,660 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $42,590 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $42,400 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $42,280 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $42,130 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $42,050 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $42,010 |
| Textile Product Mills | $42,010 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $41,600 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $41,600 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $41,510 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $41,510 |
| Offices of All Other Health Practitioners | $41,480 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $41,370 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $41,360 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $41,360 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $41,250 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $41,030 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $40,870 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $40,790 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $40,690 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $40,640 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $40,630 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $40,630 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $40,490 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $40,450 |
| Individual and Family Services | $40,440 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $40,420 |
| Business Support Services | $40,300 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $40,290 |
| Casino Hotels | $40,240 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $40,170 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $40,150 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $40,140 |
| Facilities Support Services | $40,100 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $40,050 |
| Accommodation | $39,960 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $39,910 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $39,790 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $39,780 |
| Food Manufacturing | $39,770 |
| Wholesale Trade | $39,650 |
| Home Health Care Services | $39,610 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $39,570 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $39,520 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $39,520 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $39,520 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $39,500 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $39,460 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $39,460 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $39,410 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $39,090 |
| Forestry and Logging | $39,070 |
| Logging | $39,070 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $38,980 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $38,800 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $38,790 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $38,770 |
| Other Support Services | $38,740 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $38,650 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $38,540 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $38,530 |
| Security Systems Services | $38,500 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $38,490 |
| Shoe Retailers | $38,450 |
| Social Assistance | $38,430 |
| Death Care Services | $38,320 |
| Educational Support Services | $38,280 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $38,240 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $38,150 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $38,140 |
| Junior Colleges | $38,070 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $38,060 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $38,020 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $37,990 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $37,970 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $37,920 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $37,830 |
| Truck Transportation | $37,800 |
| Gambling Industries | $37,800 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $37,790 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $37,720 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $37,610 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $37,600 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $37,560 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $37,560 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $37,550 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $37,540 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $37,530 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $37,530 |
| Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services | $37,530 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $37,530 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $37,490 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $37,460 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $37,390 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $37,340 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $37,340 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $37,300 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $36,990 |
| Employment Services | $36,910 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $36,860 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $36,790 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $36,640 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $36,620 |
| Temporary Help Services | $36,530 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $36,480 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation | $36,410 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $36,090 |
| Retail Trade | $36,080 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $36,060 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $36,010 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $36,000 |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | $35,980 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $35,930 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | $35,920 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $35,910 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $35,910 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $35,890 |
| Spectator Sports | $35,860 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $35,820 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $35,700 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $35,650 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $35,570 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $35,520 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $35,470 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $35,460 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $35,450 |
| Automobile Dealers | $35,410 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $35,210 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $35,210 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations | $35,160 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $35,160 |
| Child Care Services | $35,150 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $35,120 |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | $35,050 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $34,940 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $34,810 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $34,660 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $34,540 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $34,520 |
| Offices of Optometrists | $34,480 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $34,480 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $34,320 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | $34,320 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $34,320 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $33,910 |
| Foundries | $33,710 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $33,140 |
| Other Support Activities for Transportation | $32,600 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $30,720 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $30,470 |
| Textile Mills | $30,460 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $30,380 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $28,870 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $28,870 |
| Fabric Mills | $28,330 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | $27,460 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $27,410 |
| Coal Mining | $21,050 |
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,370 |
| 2023 | $37,070 |
| 2022 | $34,750 |
| 2021 | $31,470 |
| 2020 | $31,050 |
| 2019 | $29,680 |
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