Security Guards pay in Salinas

In Salinas (CA), the median pay for security guards is $18.61 an hour ($38,700 a year). About 1,520 people work in this job there.

$18.61Median hourly pay
$36,960–$47,220Middle half of workers, yearly
1,520People in this job in Salinas (CA)

That is 2% higher than the U.S. median ($38,020). It is 10% lower than the California median ($43,240).

Pay range for security guards in Salinas (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$17.16$35,680
25% of workers$17.77$36,960
Half of workers (median)$18.61$38,700
75% of workers$22.70$47,220
90% of workers$27.38$56,960

Security Guards pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Napa$47,240760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$46,25011,800
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$45,73026,830
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$45,1601,560
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$43,610470
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$43,250800
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$42,980530
Vallejo$42,800950
Redding$42,330490
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$40,9601,880
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$40,03083,280
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$39,46011,930
Modesto$38,990930
Salinas (this page)$38,7001,520
Stockton-Lodi$38,5302,970
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$38,50016,090
Bakersfield-Delano$38,4402,020
Hanford-Corcoran$37,980240
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$37,28022,010
Chico$37,250340
El Centro$37,230670
Fresno$37,1803,620
Yuba City$37,180390
Visalia$37,090750
Merced$36,820400

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 Salinas (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Correctional Officers and Jailers$109,620

Other job titles for this job

CsoSecurity AgentCpoClosed Circuit Screen WatcherLoss Prevention OfficerSecurity OfficerGate GuardGate WatchmanProtective OfficerSecurity Patrol OfficerAlarm InvestigatorArmed Security Officer

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Source: 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.