Security Guards pay in California
In California, the median pay for security guards is $20.79 an hour ($43,240 a year). About 199,480 people work in this job there.
That is 14% higher than the U.S. median ($38,020). California ranks 13th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for security guards in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.31 | $36,010 |
| 25% of workers | $17.88 | $37,180 |
| Half of workers (median) | $20.79 | $43,240 |
| 75% of workers | $22.48 | $46,760 |
| 90% of workers | $27.83 | $57,880 |
Security Guards pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Napa | $47,240 | 760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $46,250 | 11,800 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $45,730 | 26,830 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $45,160 | 1,560 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $43,610 | 470 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $43,250 | 800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $42,980 | 530 |
| Vallejo | $42,800 | 950 |
| Redding | $42,330 | 490 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $40,960 | 1,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $40,030 | 83,280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $39,460 | 11,930 |
| Modesto | $38,990 | 930 |
| Salinas | $38,700 | 1,520 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $38,530 | 2,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $38,500 | 16,090 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $38,440 | 2,020 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $37,980 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $37,280 | 22,010 |
| Chico | $37,250 | 340 |
| El Centro | $37,230 | 670 |
| Fresno | $37,180 | 3,620 |
| Yuba City | $37,180 | 390 |
| Visalia | $37,090 | 750 |
| Merced | $36,820 | 400 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for security guards
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.9% over ten years, little or no change · about 156,000 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.