Missouri · SOC 33-9032

Security Guards in Missouri

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

Share: Post LinkedIn

Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Missouri; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$40,390

per year in this state

+6% above

National Median

$38,020

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$19.42/hr

median hourly

Employment

18,630

jobs in MO

Salary Range in Missouri

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$31,040
25th$36,040
Median$40,390
75th$48,020
90th$68,860

What This Means for Security Guards in Missouri

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Missouri ranks #16 of 54 states and territories for Security Guards pay, the middle tier (30th percentile) nationally. Security Guards working in Missouri earn a median salary of $40,390, which is +6% above the national median of $38,020. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $31,040 at the 10th percentile to $68,860 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Security Guards labor market inside Missouri using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $40,390 ($19.42/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 18,630 workers in this SOC code (33-9032). Relative to the national median of $38,020, the state estimate is +6% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Missouri, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,040, the 25th earns $36,040, the 75th reaches $48,020, and the 90th hits $68,860. The upper boundary is roughly 2.2× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Missouri where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Missouri

Similar Occupations in Missouri

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Security Guards pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Missouri. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($40,390 here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (18,630 jobs here; floor 1,000).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 33-9032. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Missouri

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Security Guards make in Missouri?
The median annual salary for Security Guards in Missouri is $40,390 (+6% above national avg). Pay ranges from $31,040 (10th percentile) to $68,860 (90th percentile).
How many Security Guards work in Missouri?
There are approximately 18,630 Security Guards employed in Missouri, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Security Guards in Missouri?
The median hourly wage for Security Guards in Missouri is $19.42/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Missouri.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Missouri figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.