Security Guard salary

The median pay for a security guard nationally is $19.00 an hour — about $39,520 a year full time. That is based on 16 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most security guards nationally earn between $15.50 an hour and $21.25 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $15.50 an hour. A quarter of security guards earn below $16.38 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.

The top 10% of security guards nationally earn about $21.25 an hour or more. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — advanced certification, supervisory responsibility, or specialising in higher-paying work.

Security guards protect people and property by monitoring premises, controlling access and responding to incidents. Licensing requirements vary by state. Day to day, that means patrol premises and monitor CCTV, control access and check credentials, respond to incidents and alarms and write incident reports.

The usual route is: (1) obtain your state guard licence — often quick and inexpensive, (2) start in unarmed static or patrol work, (3) add specialisations or an armed permit, (4) progress to supervisor or corporate security. Employers typically look for state guard licence or registration in most states, background check and usually 18+ (21+ for armed roles).

Yes. Working as a security guard requires formal certification or licensing — specifically state guard licence or registration in most states and separate firearms permit for armed positions. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.

There are currently 17 open security guards listed on LocalWork. Broad and steady demand across commercial, healthcare, events and residential settings. Armed and specialised roles pay considerably more.

In most states, yes — an unarmed guard licence or registration involving a background check and a short training course. It is typically quick and inexpensive to obtain. Armed positions require a separate firearms permit with substantially more training.