Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

33-9032 Security Guards

Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment. Excludes "Transportation Security Screeners" (33-9093).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
1,046,420 0.9 % $13.10 $27,240 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.36 $9.46 $11.52 $15.20 $20.43
Annual Wage (2) $17,390 $19,670 $23,970 $31,610 $42,490

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 603,740 74.26 $12.18 $25,340
Local Government (OES Designation) 38,710 0.71 $15.19 $31,590
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 36,740 0.70 $15.30 $31,820
Elementary and Secondary Schools 29,220 0.35 $14.97 $31,140
Traveler Accommodation 28,290 1.63 $13.79 $28,680

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 603,740 74.26 $12.18 $25,340
Facilities Support Services 11,180 8.78 $13.58 $28,250
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 7,420 7.43 $13.86 $28,830
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 1,030 6.21 $18.54 $38,570
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 19,750 5.64 $11.84 $24,630

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (8) (8) $33.17 $68,980
Taxi and Limousine Service (8) (8) $25.21 $52,430
Nonresidential Building Construction 350 0.05 $22.75 $47,310
Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 1,130 0.43 $22.00 $45,760
Natural Gas Distribution 190 0.18 $21.97 $45,710

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 136,120 9.52 1.18 $13.33 $27,730
New York 101,070 11.83 1.47 $14.32 $29,790
Texas 81,620 7.71 0.96 $12.00 $24,970
Florida 78,050 10.73 1.34 $11.24 $23,370
Illinois 52,120 9.24 1.15 $12.27 $25,530




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 12,190 18.64 2.32 $17.79 $37,010
Nevada 20,190 17.91 2.23 $13.05 $27,150
Hawaii 9,380 15.95 1.99 $13.05 $27,140
New York 101,070 11.83 1.47 $14.32 $29,790
Florida 78,050 10.73 1.34 $11.24 $23,370




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 12,190 18.64 2.32 $17.79 $37,010
Alaska 2,100 6.58 0.82 $17.60 $36,610
Maryland 26,790 10.67 1.33 $15.87 $33,020
Washington 16,210 5.86 0.73 $15.76 $32,780
Virginia 32,520 9.04 1.13 $15.14 $31,500





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 78,120 15.15 1.89 $14.29 $29,720
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 51,950 13.42 1.67 $12.61 $26,220
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 42,070 11.56 1.44 $12.13 $25,230
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 33,480 14.28 1.78 $17.89 $37,200
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 23,680 8.97 1.12 $11.06 $23,000
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 20,590 9.10 1.13 $11.60 $24,130
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 19,790 9.44 1.17 $12.68 $26,380
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 19,080 19.10 2.38 $11.29 $23,480
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 17,580 21.48 2.67 $13.02 $27,070
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 17,000 9.33 1.16 $12.26 $25,490