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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

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 “Police Officers” (33-3050) and “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093).


National estimates for Security Guards
Industry profile for Security Guards
Geographic profile for Security Guards

National estimates for Security Guards:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Security Guards:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
1,124,890 0.4 % $ 17.64 $ 36,700 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Security Guards:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 11.55 $ 13.88 $ 16.71 $ 18.96 $ 24.69
Annual Wage (2) $ 24,020 $ 28,860 $ 34,750 $ 39,440 $ 51,350


Industry profile for Security Guards:

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Security Guards:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 690,810 72.83 $ 16.67 $ 34,660
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 42,610 0.76 $ 19.83 $ 41,240
Elementary and Secondary Schools 40,190 0.48 $ 19.96 $ 41,520
Traveler Accommodation 31,750 1.88 $ 18.16 $ 37,780
General Merchandise Retailers 26,730 0.83 $ 15.87 $ 33,020

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Security Guards:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 690,810 72.83 $ 16.67 $ 34,660
Gambling Industries 13,530 6.71 $ 16.45 $ 34,210
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 1,180 5.62 $ 30.44 $ 63,310
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 7,490 5.38 $ 19.31 $ 40,160
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 15,460 3.92 $ 14.31 $ 29,760

Top paying industries for Security Guards:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 80 0.07 $ 42.95 $ 89,330
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers 580 0.47 $ 34.94 $ 72,680
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,680 0.19 $ 31.26 $ 65,020
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 1,180 5.62 $ 30.44 $ 63,310
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 3,960 1.05 $ 29.97 $ 62,330


Geographic profile for Security Guards:

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



Map of employment of security guards by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Security Guards:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 166,660 9.45 1.24 $ 18.81 $ 39,120
New York 115,130 12.64 1.66 $ 20.05 $ 41,690
Texas 91,180 7.02 0.92 $ 16.18 $ 33,650
Florida 86,890 9.43 1.24 $ 15.70 $ 32,650
Illinois 46,510 7.90 1.04 $ 17.87 $ 37,160


Map of location quotient of security guards by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Guards:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 14,440 20.92 2.75 $ 25.45 $ 52,940
Hawaii 9,100 15.30 2.01 $ 17.45 $ 36,300
Nevada 19,310 13.68 1.80 $ 15.19 $ 31,600
New York 115,130 12.64 1.66 $ 20.05 $ 41,690
California 166,660 9.45 1.24 $ 18.81 $ 39,120


Map of annual mean wages of security guards by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Security Guards:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 14,440 20.92 2.75 $ 25.45 $ 52,940
Maryland 24,790 9.39 1.23 $ 21.19 $ 44,070
Alaska 2,350 7.67 1.01 $ 21.04 $ 43,750
Washington 22,540 6.62 0.87 $ 21.03 $ 43,750
New York 115,130 12.64 1.66 $ 20.05 $ 41,690



Map of employment of security guards by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Security Guards:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 124,250 13.53 1.78 $ 19.89 $ 41,370
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 69,640 11.42 1.50 $ 18.19 $ 37,840
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 41,670 9.44 1.24 $ 17.98 $ 37,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 39,500 15.06 1.98 $ 16.16 $ 33,610
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 38,130 12.59 1.66 $ 23.65 $ 49,190
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 30,110 7.91 1.04 $ 16.99 $ 35,340
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 26,420 8.65 1.14 $ 15.78 $ 32,830
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 24,310 8.78 1.15 $ 18.05 $ 37,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 23,230 9.71 1.28 $ 21.09 $ 43,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 21,490 7.88 1.04 $ 16.02 $ 33,320


Map of location quotient of security guards by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Guards:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Charleston, WV 3,300 32.88 4.32 $ 11.38 $ 23,670
Flint, MI 2,590 19.98 2.63 $ 14.37 $ 29,900
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 2,400 19.37 2.55 $ 16.55 $ 34,430
Urban Honolulu, HI 7,640 18.05 2.37 $ 17.09 $ 35,560
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 17,150 16.74 2.20 $ 15.06 $ 31,330
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 39,500 15.06 1.98 $ 16.16 $ 33,610
Jackson, MS 3,560 14.39 1.89 $ 12.71 $ 26,430
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 790 13.53 1.78 $ 17.03 $ 35,420
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 124,250 13.53 1.78 $ 19.89 $ 41,370
Hammond, LA 590 13.04 1.71 $ 12.30 $ 25,590


Map of annual mean wages of security guards by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Security Guards:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kennewick-Richland, WA 790 6.45 0.85 $ 33.73 $ 70,170
Idaho Falls, ID 480 6.34 0.83 $ 33.22 $ 69,100
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA 670 5.66 0.74 $ 24.84 $ 51,670
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 38,130 12.59 1.66 $ 23.65 $ 49,190
Barnstable Town, MA 360 3.62 0.48 $ 23.21 $ 48,280
Walla Walla, WA 40 1.58 0.21 $ 22.53 $ 46,860
Fairbanks, AK 140 4.01 0.53 $ 21.87 $ 45,490
Syracuse, NY 1,920 6.68 0.88 $ 21.85 $ 45,440
Boulder, CO 370 1.95 0.26 $ 21.46 $ 44,630
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 9,090 8.09 1.06 $ 21.24 $ 44,180

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Security Guards:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area 1,680 13.15 1.73 $ 13.58 $ 28,250
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 1,320 5.83 0.77 $ 13.43 $ 27,930
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 1,260 3.90 0.51 $ 21.48 $ 44,680
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 1,220 7.37 0.97 $ 13.94 $ 29,000
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area 1,170 6.91 0.91 $ 16.47 $ 34,270

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Security Guards:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area 1,680 13.15 1.73 $ 13.58 $ 28,250
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 960 10.42 1.37 $ 16.67 $ 34,670
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 650 9.39 1.23 $ 15.87 $ 33,010
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 870 8.55 1.12 $ 21.32 $ 44,350
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 800 8.16 1.07 $ 18.10 $ 37,640

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Security Guards:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 860 6.90 0.91 $ 28.68 $ 59,650
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 470 4.19 0.55 $ 24.82 $ 51,630
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 260 2.61 0.34 $ 23.27 $ 48,410
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 330 5.17 0.68 $ 22.72 $ 47,250
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 1,260 3.90 0.51 $ 21.48 $ 44,680


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023