Security Guards
SOC 33-9032 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Security Guards is $37,070, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $40,440, and an estimated 1,202,940 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +19.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +1.4% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 0.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Security Guards has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $37,070 | $37,070 | 1,202,940 |
| 2022 | $34,750 | $36,180 | 1,124,890 |
| 2021 | $31,470 | $35,388 | 1,057,100 |
| 2020 | $31,050 | $36,556 | 1,054,400 |
Nominal change
+19.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+1.4%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+0.4%
About average
Employment 2024
1,262,100
Projected 2034
1,267,100
Annual Openings
161,000
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Security Guards earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $37,070. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $51,110 | +37.9% | 14,570 |
| Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $50,820 | +37.1% | 340 |
| Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,050 | +29.6% | 280 |
| Alaska | $47,300 | +27.6% | 2,320 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $47,300 | +27.6% | 890 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $45,210 | +22% | 1,150 |
| Washington | $45,090 | +21.6% | 23,830 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $43,600 | +17.6% | 820 |
| Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $42,480 | +14.6% | 430 |
| Maryland | $41,610 | +12.2% | 27,370 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$28,500
25th Pct
$31,660
Median
$37,070
75th Pct
$44,630
90th Pct
$57,400
Related Occupations in Protective Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.