Security Guards pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,790 or more. The middle half of security guards in Washington earn between $38,660 and $71,030.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $47KMedian
- $71K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,430 | $4,536 | $26.17 |
| Median | $46,830 | $3,902 | $22.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,660 | $3,222 | $18.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,030 | $5,919 | $34.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $54,430, a single filer in Washington takes home about $43,815 a year, or $3,651 a month and $1,685 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $44,283 | $3,690 |
| Working in DC | $43,815 | $3,651 |
| Working in VA | $43,599 | $3,633 |
| Working in MD | $43,541 | $3,628 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $54,430 buys what about $49,989 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$38,620
- Baltimore, MD$42,620
- Winchester, VA$40,420
- Lexington Park, MD$52,860
- Gettysburg, PA$41,170
- Chambersburg, PA$44,550
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 Washington: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Washington?
$26.17 an hour on average, and $22.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Washington?
About $43,815 a year ($3,651 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,430.
Do security guards earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.58, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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