33 Series · SOC 33-9032
Security Guards Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,020
- Median / year
- $58,840
- Top 10% earn
- +0.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 1,283,470
- US workers
Security Guards earn a median of $38,020 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,020, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $30,210 (10th percentile) to $58,840 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,283,470 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($64,210), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Security Guards earn a median of $38,020, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 8% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #22 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.4% by 2033.
- $38,020
- Median annual wage
- Top 92%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #22 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $64,210. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Security Guards (SOC 33-9032) pays a national median of $38,020 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $30,210 at the 10th percentile to $58,840 at the 90th, with a mean of $42,470 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,283,470 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 524 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 161,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 7.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $64,210, which is +69% above the national figure. The top metro is Idaho Falls, ID at $78,680 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 1,283,470 jobs Median $38,020/yr
Median Salary
$38,020
per year
Median Hourly
$18.28/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$42,470
average
Employment
1,283,470
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Security Guards pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,020 Bottom 8% higher than 8% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Security Guards; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Security Guards sits on the slower-growing side at +0.4% growth and $38,020 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.4%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
161,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
7.3/100K
Injury Rate
2.5/100
Danger Index
13.7/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Security Guards roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.8
Monitoring 3.4
Speaking 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.1
Coordination 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0
Active Learning 2.9
Persuasion 2.9
Knowledge Areas
Public Safety and Security 4.7
Customer and Personal Service 4.5
English Language 4.3
Computers and Electronics 4.1
Administration and Management 4.0
Education and Training 3.8
Telecommunications 3.8
Administrative 3.7
Law and Government 3.5
Therapy and Counseling 3.1
Key Tasks
- ▸ Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- ▸ Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- ▸ Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- ▸ Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- ▸ Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- ▸ Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
- ▸ Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
- ▸ Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
- ▸ Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
- ▸ Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$30,210
25th Percentile
$35,210
Median
$38,020
75th Percentile
$46,200
90th Percentile
$58,840
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,210 | +69% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $47,480 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $47,100 | +24% above national |
| 4 | Vermont | $45,550 | +20% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $45,500 | +20% above national |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $45,200 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $45,150 | +19% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $44,670 | +17% above national |
| 9 | New York | $44,240 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Virginia | $43,640 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Minnesota | $43,380 | +14% above national |
| 12 | New Mexico | $43,320 | +14% above national |
| 13 | California | $43,240 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Hawaii | $42,820 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Utah | $42,700 | +12% above national |
| 16 | Missouri | $40,390 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Connecticut | $39,920 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Nebraska | $39,840 | +5% above national |
| 19 | Illinois | $39,490 | +4% above national |
| 20 | North Dakota | $39,310 | +3% above national |
| 21 | Wyoming | $39,200 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Maine | $39,100 | +3% above national |
| 23 | New Jersey | $38,880 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Montana | $38,480 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Idaho | $38,300 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Arizona | $38,290 | +1% above national |
| 27 | Maryland | $38,220 | +1% above national |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Nevada | $37,310 | 2% below national |
| 30 | South Dakota | $37,150 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,080 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Kansas | $37,080 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Michigan | $37,080 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $37,050 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $36,940 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $36,490 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Delaware | $36,360 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $36,270 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Tennessee | $36,000 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Texas | $35,980 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Florida | $35,900 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Arkansas | $35,770 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Ohio | $35,770 | 6% below national |
| 44 | South Carolina | $35,460 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Kentucky | $35,420 | 7% below national |
| 46 | North Carolina | $35,010 | 8% below national |
| 47 | Georgia | $34,980 | 8% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $33,720 | 11% below national |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,240 | 15% below national |
| 50 | Virgin Islands | $31,990 | 16% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $29,180 | 23% below national |
| 52 | West Virginia | $28,800 | 24% below national |
| 53 | Guam | $22,090 | 42% below national |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 43% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 524 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | +107% above national |
| 2 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $61,530 | +62% above national |
| 3 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $60,400 | +59% above national |
| 4 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $54,670 | +44% above national |
| 5 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $51,170 | +35% above national |
| 6 | Ithaca, NY | $49,540 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | +28% above national |
| 9 | Hinesville, GA | $48,780 | +28% above national |
| 10 | Walla Walla, WA | $48,770 | +28% above national |
| 11 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $48,690 | +28% above national |
| 12 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $48,230 | +27% above national |
| 13 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | +26% above national |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,490 | +25% above national |
| 15 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $47,290 | +24% above national |
| 16 | Napa, CA | $47,240 | +24% above national |
| 17 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | +23% above national |
| 18 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,820 | +23% above national |
| 19 | Anchorage, AK | $46,720 | +23% above national |
| 20 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46,600 | +23% above national |
| 21 | Boulder, CO | $46,450 | +22% above national |
| 22 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,250 | +22% above national |
| 23 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $46,210 | +22% above national |
| 24 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $46,160 | +21% above national |
| 25 | Salem, OR | $46,150 | +21% above national |
| 26 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $46,090 | +21% above national |
| 27 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $46,040 | +21% above national |
| 28 | Corvallis, OR | $45,980 | +21% above national |
| 29 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,730 | +20% above national |
| 30 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $45,540 | +20% above national |
| 31 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $45,420 | +19% above national |
| 32 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $45,420 | +19% above national |
| 33 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $45,370 | +19% above national |
| 34 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $45,270 | +19% above national |
| 35 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | +19% above national |
| 36 | Barnstable Town, MA | $45,230 | +19% above national |
| 37 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,190 | +19% above national |
| 38 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,160 | +19% above national |
| 39 | New Haven, CT | $45,060 | +19% above national |
| 40 | Syracuse, NY | $45,050 | +18% above national |
| 41 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $44,990 | +18% above national |
| 42 | Lexington Park, MD | $44,880 | +18% above national |
| 43 | Kingston, NY | $44,790 | +18% above national |
| 44 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | +18% above national |
| 45 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $44,720 | +18% above national |
| 46 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $44,720 | +18% above national |
| 47 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $44,650 | +17% above national |
| 48 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $44,520 | +17% above national |
| 49 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $44,450 | +17% above national |
| 50 | Jefferson City, MO | $44,430 | +17% above national |
| 51 | Utica-Rome, NY | $44,420 | +17% above national |
| 52 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $44,390 | +17% above national |
| 53 | Bellingham, WA | $44,310 | +17% above national |
| 54 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $44,300 | +17% above national |
| 55 | Medford, OR | $44,250 | +16% above national |
| 56 | Kokomo, IN | $44,080 | +16% above national |
| 57 | Albany, OR | $44,050 | +16% above national |
| 58 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $44,040 | +16% above national |
| 59 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,980 | +16% above national |
| 60 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $43,920 | +16% above national |
| 61 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,860 | +15% above national |
| 62 | Bend, OR | $43,790 | +15% above national |
| 63 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $43,770 | +15% above national |
| 64 | Carson City, NV | $43,640 | +15% above national |
| 65 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,610 | +15% above national |
| 66 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $43,560 | +15% above national |
| 67 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $43,510 | +14% above national |
| 68 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,430 | +14% above national |
| 69 | Cheyenne, WY | $43,370 | +14% above national |
| 70 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $43,340 | +14% above national |
| 71 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $43,330 | +14% above national |
| 72 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $43,320 | +14% above national |
| 73 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $43,260 | +14% above national |
| 74 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $43,250 | +14% above national |
| 75 | Casper, WY | $43,250 | +14% above national |
| 76 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,250 | +14% above national |
| 77 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $43,140 | +13% above national |
| 78 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $42,990 | +13% above national |
| 79 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,980 | +13% above national |
| 80 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | +13% above national |
| 81 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,940 | +13% above national |
| 82 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $42,910 | +13% above national |
| 83 | Rochester, NY | $42,860 | +13% above national |
| 84 | Vallejo, CA | $42,800 | +13% above national |
| 85 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $42,680 | +12% above national |
| 86 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,670 | +12% above national |
| 87 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $42,640 | +12% above national |
| 88 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,600 | +12% above national |
| 89 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $42,600 | +12% above national |
| 90 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,580 | +12% above national |
| 91 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,540 | +12% above national |
| 92 | Omaha, NE-IA | $42,370 | +11% above national |
| 93 | Redding, CA | $42,330 | +11% above national |
| 94 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,250 | +11% above national |
| 95 | Springfield, IL | $42,240 | +11% above national |
| 96 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $42,200 | +11% above national |
| 97 | Charlottesville, VA | $42,170 | +11% above national |
| 98 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $42,170 | +11% above national |
| 99 | Chambersburg, PA | $42,130 | +11% above national |
| 100 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,100 | +11% above national |
| 101 | Binghamton, NY | $42,070 | +11% above national |
| 102 | Great Falls, MT | $41,950 | +10% above national |
| 103 | St. George, UT | $41,950 | +10% above national |
| 104 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $41,950 | +10% above national |
| 105 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $41,810 | +10% above national |
| 106 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $41,750 | +10% above national |
| 107 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $41,610 | +9% above national |
| 108 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | +9% above national |
| 109 | Bozeman, MT | $41,420 | +9% above national |
| 110 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $41,310 | +9% above national |
| 111 | Decatur, IL | $41,220 | +8% above national |
| 112 | Santa Fe, NM | $40,980 | +8% above national |
| 113 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40,960 | +8% above national |
| 114 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $40,960 | +8% above national |
| 115 | Midland, MI | $40,880 | +8% above national |
| 116 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $40,870 | +7% above national |
| 117 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $40,860 | +7% above national |
| 118 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $40,810 | +7% above national |
| 119 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $40,780 | +7% above national |
| 120 | Saginaw, MI | $40,730 | +7% above national |
| 121 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $40,690 | +7% above national |
| 122 | Pueblo, CO | $40,360 | +6% above national |
| 123 | Springfield, MA | $40,340 | +6% above national |
| 124 | Vineland, NJ | $40,260 | +6% above national |
| 125 | Elmira, NY | $40,130 | +6% above national |
| 126 | Green Bay, WI | $40,130 | +6% above national |
| 127 | Traverse City, MI | $40,060 | +5% above national |
| 128 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,030 | +5% above national |
| 129 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $40,030 | +5% above national |
| 130 | Sheboygan, WI | $40,010 | +5% above national |
| 131 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,990 | +5% above national |
| 132 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $39,900 | +5% above national |
| 133 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $39,770 | +5% above national |
| 134 | Mankato, MN | $39,760 | +5% above national |
| 135 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $39,750 | +5% above national |
| 136 | Manhattan, KS | $39,730 | +4% above national |
| 137 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,670 | +4% above national |
| 138 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $39,640 | +4% above national |
| 139 | Logan, UT-ID | $39,600 | +4% above national |
| 140 | Iowa City, IA | $39,540 | +4% above national |
| 141 | Gettysburg, PA | $39,500 | +4% above national |
| 142 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $39,460 | +4% above national |
| 143 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $39,450 | +4% above national |
| 144 | Minot, ND | $39,430 | +4% above national |
| 145 | Reno, NV | $39,370 | +4% above national |
| 146 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $39,200 | +3% above national |
| 147 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $39,190 | +3% above national |
| 148 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $39,180 | +3% above national |
| 149 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,090 | +3% above national |
| 150 | Florence, SC | $39,060 | +3% above national |
| 151 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $39,060 | +3% above national |
| 152 | Springfield, MO | $39,010 | +3% above national |
| 153 | Modesto, CA | $38,990 | +3% above national |
| 154 | Reading, PA | $38,960 | +2% above national |
| 155 | Glens Falls, NY | $38,920 | +2% above national |
| 156 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $38,870 | +2% above national |
| 157 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $38,870 | +2% above national |
| 158 | Grand Island, NE | $38,850 | +2% above national |
| 159 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,820 | +2% above national |
| 160 | Jackson, MI | $38,750 | +2% above national |
| 161 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $38,720 | +2% above national |
| 162 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,710 | +2% above national |
| 163 | Salinas, CA | $38,700 | +2% above national |
| 164 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $38,670 | +2% above national |
| 165 | Grand Junction, CO | $38,590 | +1% above national |
| 166 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,530 | +1% above national |
| 167 | Peoria, IL | $38,530 | +1% above national |
| 168 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,530 | +1% above national |
| 169 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,520 | +1% above national |
| 170 | Decatur, AL | $38,500 | +1% above national |
| 171 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,500 | +1% above national |
| 172 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,480 | +1% above national |
| 173 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,440 | +1% above national |
| 174 | St. Cloud, MN | $38,430 | +1% above national |
| 175 | Worcester, MA | $38,430 | +1% above national |
| 176 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,420 | +1% above national |
| 177 | Odessa, TX | $38,420 | +1% above national |
| 178 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $38,370 | +1% above national |
| 179 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $38,290 | +1% above national |
| 180 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,210 | same as national |
| 181 | Flagstaff, AZ | $38,200 | same as national |
| 182 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,170 | same as national |
| 183 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $38,120 | same as national |
| 184 | Lancaster, PA | $38,090 | same as national |
| 185 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $38,070 | same as national |
| 186 | Billings, MT | $38,040 | same as national |
| 187 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $38,030 | same as national |
| 188 | Madison, WI | $38,020 | same as national |
| 189 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,980 | same as national |
| 190 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $37,920 | same as national |
| 191 | Helena, MT | $37,920 | same as national |
| 192 | Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | same as national |
| 193 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $37,880 | same as national |
| 194 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,870 | same as national |
| 195 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,840 | same as national |
| 196 | Joplin, MO-KS | $37,830 | same as national |
| 197 | Dalton, GA | $37,820 | 1% below national |
| 198 | Pocatello, ID | $37,790 | 1% below national |
| 199 | Fargo, ND-MN | $37,770 | 1% below national |
| 200 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,740 | 1% below national |
| 201 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,670 | 1% below national |
| 202 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,640 | 1% below national |
| 203 | Dubuque, IA | $37,620 | 1% below national |
| 204 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $37,600 | 1% below national |
| 205 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $37,580 | 1% below national |
| 206 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $37,560 | 1% below national |
| 207 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,550 | 1% below national |
| 208 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,550 | 1% below national |
| 209 | Springfield, OH | $37,540 | 1% below national |
| 210 | Duluth, MN-WI | $37,520 | 1% below national |
| 211 | Midland, TX | $37,500 | 1% below national |
| 212 | Lebanon, PA | $37,470 | 1% below national |
| 213 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,450 | 1% below national |
| 214 | Yakima, WA | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 215 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 216 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 217 | Ames, IA | $37,430 | 2% below national |
| 218 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $37,390 | 2% below national |
| 219 | Boise City, ID | $37,380 | 2% below national |
| 220 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,340 | 2% below national |
| 221 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,280 | 2% below national |
| 222 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $37,280 | 2% below national |
| 223 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,270 | 2% below national |
| 224 | Chico, CA | $37,250 | 2% below national |
| 225 | El Centro, CA | $37,230 | 2% below national |
| 226 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,230 | 2% below national |
| 227 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $37,210 | 2% below national |
| 228 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,210 | 2% below national |
| 229 | Battle Creek, MI | $37,200 | 2% below national |
| 230 | Greeley, CO | $37,190 | 2% below national |
| 231 | Fresno, CA | $37,180 | 2% below national |
| 232 | Salisbury, MD | $37,180 | 2% below national |
| 233 | Yuba City, CA | $37,180 | 2% below national |
| 234 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,170 | 2% below national |
| 235 | Harrisonburg, VA | $37,160 | 2% below national |
| 236 | Rapid City, SD | $37,150 | 2% below national |
| 237 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $37,140 | 2% below national |
| 238 | Visalia, CA | $37,090 | 2% below national |
| 239 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,050 | 3% below national |
| 240 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $37,050 | 3% below national |
| 241 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $37,040 | 3% below national |
| 242 | Grants Pass, OR | $37,030 | 3% below national |
| 243 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $37,030 | 3% below national |
| 244 | Las Cruces, NM | $37,010 | 3% below national |
| 245 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,010 | 3% below national |
| 246 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $37,000 | 3% below national |
| 247 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $36,970 | 3% below national |
| 248 | Richmond, VA | $36,960 | 3% below national |
| 249 | Rockford, IL | $36,960 | 3% below national |
| 250 | Wilmington, NC | $36,960 | 3% below national |
| 251 | Columbia, MO | $36,950 | 3% below national |
| 252 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,940 | 3% below national |
| 253 | Roanoke, VA | $36,900 | 3% below national |
| 254 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $36,900 | 3% below national |
| 255 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $36,900 | 3% below national |
| 256 | Bangor, ME | $36,860 | 3% below national |
| 257 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $36,860 | 3% below national |
| 258 | Topeka, KS | $36,830 | 3% below national |
| 259 | Asheville, NC | $36,820 | 3% below national |
| 260 | Farmington, NM | $36,820 | 3% below national |
| 261 | Merced, CA | $36,820 | 3% below national |
| 262 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $36,820 | 3% below national |
| 263 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,810 | 3% below national |
| 264 | Rocky Mount, NC | $36,810 | 3% below national |
| 265 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,800 | 3% below national |
| 266 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,780 | 3% below national |
| 267 | Missoula, MT | $36,750 | 3% below national |
| 268 | Greenville, NC | $36,730 | 3% below national |
| 269 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $36,730 | 3% below national |
| 270 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $36,720 | 3% below national |
| 271 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,710 | 3% below national |
| 272 | Lincoln, NE | $36,700 | 3% below national |
| 273 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,680 | 4% below national |
| 274 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $36,670 | 4% below national |
| 275 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $36,650 | 4% below national |
| 276 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 4% below national |
| 277 | Tulsa, OK | $36,640 | 4% below national |
| 278 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $36,640 | 4% below national |
| 279 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,630 | 4% below national |
| 280 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,620 | 4% below national |
| 281 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,620 | 4% below national |
| 282 | Ogden, UT | $36,600 | 4% below national |
| 283 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,570 | 4% below national |
| 284 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,540 | 4% below national |
| 285 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,510 | 4% below national |
| 286 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,510 | 4% below national |
| 287 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,510 | 4% below national |
| 288 | Baton Rouge, LA | $36,500 | 4% below national |
| 289 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,490 | 4% below national |
| 290 | Rome, GA | $36,430 | 4% below national |
| 291 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 4% below national |
| 292 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 4% below national |
| 293 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,420 | 4% below national |
| 294 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $36,410 | 4% below national |
| 295 | Paducah, KY-IL | $36,370 | 4% below national |
| 296 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,360 | 4% below national |
| 297 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,360 | 4% below national |
| 298 | Spartanburg, SC | $36,350 | 4% below national |
| 299 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,350 | 4% below national |
| 300 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,330 | 4% below national |
| 301 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,320 | 4% below national |
| 302 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,270 | 5% below national |
| 303 | Tucson, AZ | $36,250 | 5% below national |
| 304 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $36,230 | 5% below national |
| 305 | Huntsville, AL | $36,210 | 5% below national |
| 306 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,210 | 5% below national |
| 307 | Eau Claire, WI | $36,190 | 5% below national |
| 308 | Tyler, TX | $36,170 | 5% below national |
| 309 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,150 | 5% below national |
| 310 | Bismarck, ND | $36,130 | 5% below national |
| 311 | Abilene, TX | $36,120 | 5% below national |
| 312 | Hot Springs, AR | $36,120 | 5% below national |
| 313 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,110 | 5% below national |
| 314 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $36,110 | 5% below national |
| 315 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,100 | 5% below national |
| 316 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,090 | 5% below national |
| 317 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,070 | 5% below national |
| 318 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $36,060 | 5% below national |
| 319 | Yuma, AZ | $36,050 | 5% below national |
| 320 | Appleton, WI | $36,040 | 5% below national |
| 321 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,040 | 5% below national |
| 322 | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,040 | 5% below national |
| 323 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $36,020 | 5% below national |
| 324 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,010 | 5% below national |
| 325 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,980 | 5% below national |
| 326 | Jackson, TN | $35,960 | 5% below national |
| 327 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,930 | 5% below national |
| 328 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,930 | 5% below national |
| 329 | Altoona, PA | $35,900 | 6% below national |
| 330 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,900 | 6% below national |
| 331 | Cleveland, OH | $35,890 | 6% below national |
| 332 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $35,860 | 6% below national |
| 333 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,850 | 6% below national |
| 334 | Knoxville, TN | $35,810 | 6% below national |
| 335 | Columbus, OH | $35,800 | 6% below national |
| 336 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,760 | 6% below national |
| 337 | Sandusky, OH | $35,710 | 6% below national |
| 338 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,710 | 6% below national |
| 339 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $35,710 | 6% below national |
| 340 | Niles, MI | $35,690 | 6% below national |
| 341 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $35,690 | 6% below national |
| 342 | York-Hanover, PA | $35,660 | 6% below national |
| 343 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,650 | 6% below national |
| 344 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,650 | 6% below national |
| 345 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,630 | 6% below national |
| 346 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,620 | 6% below national |
| 347 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,600 | 6% below national |
| 348 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,600 | 6% below national |
| 349 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,570 | 6% below national |
| 350 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,530 | 7% below national |
| 351 | Amarillo, TX | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 352 | Bloomington, IL | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 353 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 354 | Bloomington, IN | $35,510 | 7% below national |
| 355 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $35,510 | 7% below national |
| 356 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,500 | 7% below national |
| 357 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,460 | 7% below national |
| 358 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,400 | 7% below national |
| 359 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $35,390 | 7% below national |
| 360 | Fond du Lac, WI | $35,380 | 7% below national |
| 361 | Kankakee, IL | $35,380 | 7% below national |
| 362 | Gainesville, GA | $35,360 | 7% below national |
| 363 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 7% below national |
| 364 | Akron, OH | $35,340 | 7% below national |
| 365 | Jacksonville, FL | $35,340 | 7% below national |
| 366 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $35,270 | 7% below national |
| 367 | Waco, TX | $35,270 | 7% below national |
| 368 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,260 | 7% below national |
| 369 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $35,250 | 7% below national |
| 370 | Lubbock, TX | $35,220 | 7% below national |
| 371 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | 7% below national |
| 372 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | 7% below national |
| 373 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $35,170 | 7% below national |
| 374 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,160 | 8% below national |
| 375 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $35,150 | 8% below national |
| 376 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,140 | 8% below national |
| 377 | Columbia, SC | $35,140 | 8% below national |
| 378 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,140 | 8% below national |
| 379 | Kenosha, WI | $35,120 | 8% below national |
| 380 | Dover, DE | $35,100 | 8% below national |
| 381 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $35,100 | 8% below national |
| 382 | Lawrence, KS | $35,080 | 8% below national |
| 383 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $35,060 | 8% below national |
| 384 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,060 | 8% below national |
| 385 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,020 | 8% below national |
| 386 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $35,010 | 8% below national |
| 387 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $35,010 | 8% below national |
| 388 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $34,980 | 8% below national |
| 389 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,950 | 8% below national |
| 390 | Toledo, OH | $34,950 | 8% below national |
| 391 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $34,940 | 8% below national |
| 392 | Flint, MI | $34,930 | 8% below national |
| 393 | Wichita Falls, TX | $34,920 | 8% below national |
| 394 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $34,880 | 8% below national |
| 395 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $34,840 | 8% below national |
| 396 | Jonesboro, AR | $34,820 | 8% below national |
| 397 | Savannah, GA | $34,810 | 8% below national |
| 398 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 8% below national |
| 399 | Wichita, KS | $34,790 | 8% below national |
| 400 | Bowling Green, KY | $34,720 | 9% below national |
| 401 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $34,690 | 9% below national |
| 402 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $34,680 | 9% below national |
| 403 | Sumter, SC | $34,660 | 9% below national |
| 404 | Columbus, IN | $34,630 | 9% below national |
| 405 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,630 | 9% below national |
| 406 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,630 | 9% below national |
| 407 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $34,550 | 9% below national |
| 408 | Erie, PA | $34,530 | 9% below national |
| 409 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $34,530 | 9% below national |
| 410 | Warner Robins, GA | $34,530 | 9% below national |
| 411 | Elizabethtown, KY | $34,450 | 9% below national |
| 412 | Williamsport, PA | $34,440 | 9% below national |
| 413 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,440 | 9% below national |
| 414 | Wausau, WI | $34,400 | 10% below national |
| 415 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $34,340 | 10% below national |
| 416 | Ocala, FL | $34,330 | 10% below national |
| 417 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $34,310 | 10% below national |
| 418 | Morgantown, WV | $34,290 | 10% below national |
| 419 | State College, PA | $34,290 | 10% below national |
| 420 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $34,260 | 10% below national |
| 421 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,250 | 10% below national |
| 422 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $34,120 | 10% below national |
| 423 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,100 | 10% below national |
| 424 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $34,060 | 10% below national |
| 425 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,030 | 10% below national |
| 426 | Evansville, IN | $34,010 | 11% below national |
| 427 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,990 | 11% below national |
| 428 | Gainesville, FL | $33,950 | 11% below national |
| 429 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $33,940 | 11% below national |
| 430 | Tallahassee, FL | $33,930 | 11% below national |
| 431 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,910 | 11% below national |
| 432 | Corpus Christi, TX | $33,870 | 11% below national |
| 433 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $33,860 | 11% below national |
| 434 | Birmingham, AL | $33,820 | 11% below national |
| 435 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,740 | 11% below national |
| 436 | San Angelo, TX | $33,700 | 11% below national |
| 437 | Mansfield, OH | $33,670 | 11% below national |
| 438 | Mobile, AL | $33,630 | 12% below national |
| 439 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,620 | 12% below national |
| 440 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,560 | 12% below national |
| 441 | Terre Haute, IN | $33,550 | 12% below national |
| 442 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,450 | 12% below national |
| 443 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $33,430 | 12% below national |
| 444 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,420 | 12% below national |
| 445 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $33,320 | 12% below national |
| 446 | Enid, OK | $33,280 | 12% below national |
| 447 | Lawton, OK | $33,280 | 12% below national |
| 448 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $33,270 | 12% below national |
| 449 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,020 | 13% below national |
| 450 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $32,990 | 13% below national |
| 451 | Victoria, TX | $32,950 | 13% below national |
| 452 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $32,950 | 13% below national |
| 453 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $32,870 | 14% below national |
| 454 | Valdosta, GA | $32,810 | 14% below national |
| 455 | Sebring, FL | $32,610 | 14% below national |
| 456 | Muncie, IN | $32,520 | 14% below national |
| 457 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $32,480 | 15% below national |
| 458 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $32,240 | 15% below national |
| 459 | Twin Falls, ID | $32,040 | 16% below national |
| 460 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,040 | 16% below national |
| 461 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,860 | 16% below national |
| 462 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,770 | 16% below national |
| 463 | Longview, TX | $31,730 | 17% below national |
| 464 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,590 | 17% below national |
| 465 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,560 | 17% below national |
| 466 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,480 | 17% below national |
| 467 | Owensboro, KY | $31,440 | 17% below national |
| 468 | Burlington, NC | $31,370 | 17% below national |
| 469 | Johnstown, PA | $31,320 | 18% below national |
| 470 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $31,240 | 18% below national |
| 471 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $31,230 | 18% below national |
| 472 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $31,130 | 18% below national |
| 473 | Goldsboro, NC | $31,070 | 18% below national |
| 474 | Montgomery, AL | $31,000 | 18% below national |
| 475 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,980 | 19% below national |
| 476 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,960 | 19% below national |
| 477 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $30,890 | 19% below national |
| 478 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,890 | 19% below national |
| 479 | Hammond, LA | $30,880 | 19% below national |
| 480 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,810 | 19% below national |
| 481 | Morristown, TN | $30,790 | 19% below national |
| 482 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $30,760 | 19% below national |
| 483 | Hattiesburg, MS | $30,760 | 19% below national |
| 484 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $30,760 | 19% below national |
| 485 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $30,740 | 19% below national |
| 486 | Jacksonville, NC | $30,730 | 19% below national |
| 487 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,730 | 19% below national |
| 488 | Dothan, AL | $30,720 | 19% below national |
| 489 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $30,720 | 19% below national |
| 490 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $30,690 | 19% below national |
| 491 | Cleveland, TN | $30,680 | 19% below national |
| 492 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $30,460 | 20% below national |
| 493 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,180 | 21% below national |
| 494 | Lafayette, LA | $30,090 | 21% below national |
| 495 | Lima, OH | $30,060 | 21% below national |
| 496 | Gadsden, AL | $30,040 | 21% below national |
| 497 | Eagle Pass, TX | $30,030 | 21% below national |
| 498 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $30,010 | 21% below national |
| 499 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $29,970 | 21% below national |
| 500 | Bay City, MI | $29,820 | 22% below national |
| 501 | El Paso, TX | $29,740 | 22% below national |
| 502 | Lake Charles, LA | $29,740 | 22% below national |
| 503 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,730 | 22% below national |
| 504 | Columbus, GA-AL | $29,720 | 22% below national |
| 505 | Albany, GA | $29,700 | 22% below national |
| 506 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,700 | 22% below national |
| 507 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,590 | 22% below national |
| 508 | Alexandria, LA | $29,430 | 23% below national |
| 509 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $29,400 | 23% below national |
| 510 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,290 | 23% below national |
| 511 | Laredo, TX | $29,180 | 23% below national |
| 512 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $29,040 | 24% below national |
| 513 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,950 | 24% below national |
| 514 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,440 | 25% below national |
| 515 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $28,130 | 26% below national |
| 516 | Jackson, MS | $27,950 | 26% below national |
| 517 | Johnson City, TN | $27,720 | 27% below national |
| 518 | Arecibo, PR | $22,080 | 42% below national |
| 519 | Aguadilla, PR | $21,840 | 43% below national |
| 520 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 43% below national |
| 521 | Ponce, PR | $21,840 | 43% below national |
| 522 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $21,840 | 43% below national |
| 523 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 43% below national |
| 524 | Charleston, WV | $20,800 | 45% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Security Guards make? ▼
The median annual salary for Security Guards is $38,020 ($18.28/hour). The salary range spans from $30,210 at the 10th percentile to $58,840 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Security Guards the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Security Guards at $64,210/year, which is +69% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Security Guards? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Security Guards is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Security Guards? ▼
Security Guards has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 7.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2.5 per 100 workers.
Is Security Guards a good career? ▼
Employment for Security Guards is projected to grow 0.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 161,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Security Guards pay vary by state? ▼
Security Guards salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $64,210/year, while Virgin Islands pays the least at $31,990/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Security Guards? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Security Guards is Idaho Falls, ID at $78,680/year. BLS reports wage data for 524 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Security Guards pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $46,200/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $64,210/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.