Security Guard Salary: Entry-Level vs. Experienced Pay (2027 Guide)

Two security guards in the same city can earn very different pay, depending on experience, armed status, and employer. The median security guard salary in the US was $38,020 a year, or $18.28 an hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest-paid 10% earned under $14.52 an hour, while the top 10% earned more than $28.29, almost twice as much. That spread is where entry-level security guard pay and experienced security guard salary separate. Pay also shifts by state, industry, and license type, from contract posts at retail stores to armed posts at federal sites. BLS data shows supervisors earning about $8.62 an hour more than the guard median.

Job Outlook

BLS growth projection and annual openings

The security guard job outlook from BLS employment projections shows 0.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations. Even so, BLS expects about 156,000 openings a year.

Factors shaping demand

BLS attributes most openings to the need to replace guards who move to other occupations or leave the labor force, such as to retire. It does not publish figures tying security guard demand to technology, crime trends, staffing shortages, or event growth, so those factors are not quantified here.

How to Earn More as a Security Guard

Get an armed license or specialty certification

Armed security officer postings average about 18% more than general security guard postings on Indeed. A state firearms permit, plus CPR and first aid certification, opens posts that unarmed, uncertified guards cannot take.

Move to higher-paying sectors or states

Government, hospital, school, and corporate employers pay higher means than contract firms and retailers. Alaska, Washington, and Vermont lead the state medians, and the District of Columbia pays more than any state.

Work shifts with premium pay

Night, weekend, and holiday shifts can carry a differential, and overtime pays at least time and a half for nonexempt workers. Ask how each employer pays these before accepting a schedule.

Negotiate based on experience and credentials

Bring your state's BLS median and percentiles, posting averages for armed and unarmed jobs in your area, and a list of your licenses and certifications. A guard with an armed permit and supervisory experience can point to the 75th percentile, $22.21 an hour, as a comparison.

Move into supervision

Supervisors of security workers earned a median of $26.90 an hour in May 2025, about $8.62 more than the guard median. Leading shifts and training new guards builds the experience employers ask for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do security guards make per hour?

The median security guard earned $18.28 an hour in May 2025, according to BLS, and the mean was $20.42. Job postings on Indeed average $18.56 an hour, and armed security officer postings average $21.83 an hour. Night shifts and overtime can add to those base rates.

How much do security guards make per year?

The median annual wage for security guards was $38,020 in May 2025, and the mean was $42,470. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $30,210, while the top 10% earned more than $58,840 a year. Overtime and extra shifts can push annual earnings above these base figures.

What is the average security guard salary in the US?

The average (mean) security guard salary in the US was $42,470 a year, or $20.42 an hour, in May 2025, based on BLS data for about 1.28 million security guards. The median, which is less affected by high earners, was $38,020.

How much do entry-level security guards make?

BLS does not publish pay by experience. The 10th percentile was $14.52 an hour and the 25th percentile $16.93 in May 2025. PayScale's self-reported data shows $15.26 an hour in average total compensation for guards with less than a year of experience.

How much do experienced security guards make?

Experienced guards near the 75th percentile earned $22.21 an hour, or $46,200 a year, in May 2025, and the top 10% earned more than $28.29 an hour. Moving into supervision raises the median to $26.90 an hour. Armed permits and higher-paying employers such as hospitals and government also lift pay.

How much more do armed security guards make?

BLS does not separate armed and unarmed guards. On Indeed, armed security officer postings average $21.83 an hour, about 18% more than the $18.56 average for all security guard postings. Armed posts also carry stricter screening and firearms training requirements.

Which state pays security guards the most?

Alaska had the highest state median in May 2025 at $47,480 a year, or $22.83 an hour, followed by Washington at $47,100 and Vermont at $45,550. The District of Columbia, not a state, reported a higher median of $64,210. Living costs in those places are also higher.

Which state pays security guards the least?

West Virginia had the lowest state median in May 2025, at $28,800 a year, or $13.85 an hour. Mississippi followed at $29,180 and Louisiana at $32,240. Living costs in those states are also lower than in the top-paying states, so the gap in real pay is smaller.

How much do security guards make at night?

No government source publishes a national night pay figure for security guards. BLS reports that night shifts are common in the job. Some employers add a night differential to the base rate, so ask each employer how night, weekend, and holiday hours are paid.

Do security guards get paid overtime?

Security guards who are nonexempt under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act earn at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. At the $18.28 median, five overtime hours a week adds about $7,129 a year.

Is security guard a good career?

Security guard work requires a high school diploma and short-term training, and BLS projects about 156,000 openings a year through 2035, though employment growth is only 0.9%. The median of $38,020 rises with armed licenses, supervision, and higher-paying sectors such as government and hospitals.

How much do security supervisors make?

First-line supervisors of security workers earned a median of $55,940 a year, or $26.90 an hour, in May 2025, with a mean of $59,900. The top 10% of supervisors earned more than $92,260 a year. BLS lists less than five years of related experience as typical for the role.

How much do hospital security guards make?

Security guards employed by hospitals earned a mean of $47,450 a year, or $22.81 an hour, in May 2025, with a median of $46,150. That is higher than the $41,380 mean at contract security firms, which employ most guards. Hospital guards may need CPR or first aid certification.

How much do government security guards make?

Security guards in government earned a mean of $46,370 a year in May 2025, and federal government guards earned a mean of $54,600. Transportation security screeners, a separate federal occupation, earned a median of $66,770. State and local government guards earned means of about $46,000.

Do I need a license to work as a security guard?

In most states, yes. BLS reports that most states require security guards to be licensed, with basic requirements of being at least 18, passing a background check, and completing training. Armed guards need an additional firearms license with stricter screening.

How long does it take to get a raise as a security guard?

No government source tracks raise timing for security guards. PayScale's self-reported data shows average pay rising from $15.26 an hour in the first year to $16.76 at one to four years. Larger jumps come from armed permits, supervisory roles, or higher-paying employers.

What certifications increase security guard pay?

An armed guard permit is tied to higher posted pay, with armed postings averaging about 18% more on Indeed. CPR, first aid, and AED certification, executive protection training, and the ASIS Certified Protection Professional credential can open other roles, though no source publishes their exact premiums.

Can security guards make six figures?

Rarely as guards. The national 90th percentile was $58,840 in May 2025, though guards in natural gas distribution earned a median of $94,030. Security managers, counted with facilities managers, earned a median of $106,660, so six figures usually requires a management role.

How do security guard salaries compare to police officers?

Police and sheriff's patrol officers earned a median of $76,210 in May 2025, about twice the $38,020 median for security guards. Police officers complete a training academy, while security guard jobs require state licensing in most states and short-term training.

What is the highest-paying security job?

Among the BLS occupations covered here, security managers, counted with facilities managers, have the highest median at $106,660 a year. Transportation security screeners earned $66,770 and security supervisors $55,940, while guards at natural gas distribution sites earned a $94,030 median.

Benchmarking Security Guard Pay by Experience and Location

The median security guard salary was $38,020 a year, or $18.28 an hour, with entry-level pay near $14.52 to $16.93 and experienced pay near $22.21 to $28.29. Armed status, certifications, location, industry, and a move into supervision are the main drivers of higher pay, and armed postings average about 18% more than general ones. Comparing your pay or a job offer against your state's median in the full state table shows where it stands. Dreambound helps people compare training programs, including security guard training. Wage figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025 unless a job board or survey is named.

Security Guard Salary by State (Full Table)

Figures are BLS May 2025 medians for security guards (SOC 33-9032).

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