State College, PA · SOC 33-9032

Security Guards in the State College Metro

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures cover the full State College, PA BLS wage area, not only its central city; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate. Verify with the BLS OEWS source tables.

Median Salary

$34,290

per year in the State College metro

10% below

National Median

$38,020

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$16.49/hr

median hourly

Employment

280

jobs in the State College metro

The State College pay distribution spans from $21,360 at the 10th percentile to $44,450 at the 90th, a 2.1× observed spread. Differences in specialization, employer, sector, location, credentials, schedule, and experience may all contribute, but OEWS does not isolate their effects. The 25th percentile sits at $30,020 and the 75th at $40,870, so half of State College-based security guards earn within that middle band.

Metro figures use establishment work location, not worker residence. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so State College, PA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. OEWS includes straight-time pay, tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer health and retirement benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, signing bonuses, and other nonproduction bonuses. The same occupation's national profile, statewide PA estimate, and peer-metro rows provide distinct geographic comparisons. A published median is a benchmark, not a prediction or ceiling for one worker.

Salary Range in the State College Metro

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$21,360
25th$30,020
Median$34,290
75th$40,870
90th$44,450

Top Paying Jobs in State College

1. Chief Executives Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). $203,960 2. Dentists, General Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). $168,340 3. Architectural and Engineering Managers Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 70 workers (fewer than 100). $150,520 4. Pharmacists $135,010 5. Veterinarians Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). $131,500 6. Physician Assistants Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 80 workers (fewer than 100). $128,480 7. Computer and Information Systems Managers $128,410 8. Human Resources Managers Small sample: Small sample: this BLS estimate rests on 60 workers (fewer than 100). $127,570 9. Financial Managers $125,550 10. Nurse Practitioners $124,470

Small sample marks a row whose BLS estimate rests on fewer than 100 workers. It is still a published figure, but BLS reports more sampling error for cells this small: the median relative standard error of the mean wage is 3.4% under 100 workers against 2.1% at 100 or more (May 2025 metro estimates). Small gaps in rank between neighbouring rows may not be meaningful.

Similar Occupations in State College

Other roles inside the State College, PA MSA from the same SOC major group.

Animal Control Workers

in State College

Bailiffs

in State College

Correctional Officers and Jailers

in State College

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

in State College

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

in State College
Compare Security Guards against another occupation → ← National Security Guards salary Security Guards in PA →

How much do Security Guards make in the State College metro area?

How much do Security Guards make in the State College metro area? ▼
The median annual salary for Security Guards in State College, PA is $34,290 ($16.49/hour). The salary range spans from $21,360 at the 10th percentile to $44,450 at the 90th percentile.
How does Security Guards pay in the State College metro compare nationally? ▼
Security Guards pay in State College, PA is 10% below the national median of $38,020. There are approximately 280 Security Guards jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage figures are computed directly from BLS OEWS data for the full State College, PA wage area. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.