Security Guards pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,450 or more. The middle half of security guards in State College earn between $30,020 and $40,870.
- $21K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $41K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,740 | $2,895 | $16.70 |
| Median | $34,290 | $2,858 | $16.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,020 | $2,502 | $14.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,870 | $3,406 | $19.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $34,740, a single filer in State College takes home about $29,027 a year, or $2,419 a month and $1,116 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $34,740 buys what about $35,903 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 15th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Chambersburg pays the most ($44,550).
- Chambersburg$44,550
- Philadelphia$42,180
- Gettysburg$41,170
- Lancaster$40,720
- York$40,680
- Harrisburg$40,500
- Scranton$40,080
- Allentown$39,900
- Reading$39,680
- State College$34,740
Highest-paying cities for security guards
Idaho Falls, ID pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($68,260).
- Idaho Falls, ID$68,260
- Fairbanks, AK$60,120
- Kennewick, WA$59,640
- Burlington, VT$55,360
- Anchorage, AK$54,540
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Security Guards salary in State College: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in State College?
$16.70 an hour on average, and $16.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in State College?
About $29,027 a year ($2,419 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,740. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do security guards earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($42,221).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9032; area State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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