How Much Does a Security Guard Make in the United States in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in the United States
$38,270/yr ($18.40/hr · $32,788 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$29,850 ($14.35/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$51,670 ($24.84/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$1,261.09
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$27.60/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $14.35/hr | $29,850 | −$3,827.03 | $26,022.97 | $1,000.88 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $18.40/hr | $38,270 | −$5,481.56 | $32,788.44 | $1,261.09 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $24.84/hr | $51,670 | −$8,114.66 | $43,555.34 | $1,675.21 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($18.03/hr)California ($21.71/hr)Florida ($17.48/hr)New York ($21.34/hr)Illinois ($18.95/hr)Arizona ($17.85/hr)New Jersey ($20.61/hr)Georgia ($17.66/hr)North Carolina ($17.48/hr)Washington ($21.16/hr)Pennsylvania ($18.22/hr)Ohio ($17.30/hr)Nevada ($18.03/hr)Colorado ($19.50/hr)Virginia ($19.32/hr)Massachusetts ($21.53/hr)Michigan ($17.66/hr)Tennessee ($16.93/hr)Indiana ($17.11/hr)Maryland ($19.87/hr)Minnesota ($19.14/hr)Missouri ($16.93/hr)Wisconsin ($17.85/hr)Oregon ($19.32/hr)Connecticut ($20.42/hr)Utah ($17.85/hr)South Carolina ($16.74/hr)Alabama ($16.19/hr)Louisiana ($16.38/hr)Kentucky ($16.38/hr)Oklahoma ($16.38/hr)Kansas ($16.93/hr)Iowa ($17.11/hr)New Mexico ($16.93/hr)Arkansas ($16.01/hr)Mississippi ($15.64/hr)Nebraska ($17.30/hr)Idaho ($17.11/hr)Hawaii ($19.87/hr)New Hampshire ($18.95/hr)Maine ($17.48/hr)Rhode Island ($18.77/hr)Montana ($16.93/hr)Delaware ($18.58/hr)South Dakota ($16.74/hr)North Dakota ($17.48/hr)Alaska ($20.06/hr)Vermont ($18.03/hr)West Virginia ($15.82/hr)Wyoming ($17.48/hr)