Security Guards pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
In Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (FL), the median pay for security guards is $17.31 an hour ($36,010 a year). About 12,200 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($38,020). It is about the same as the Florida median ($35,900).
Pay range for security guards in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (FL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.84 | $28,800 |
| 25% of workers | $16.11 | $33,510 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.31 | $36,010 |
| 75% of workers | $20.39 | $42,410 |
| 90% of workers | $22.93 | $47,700 |
Security Guards pay in Florida metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $39,450 | 1,040 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $37,140 | 520 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $37,040 | 2,590 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $36,900 | 350 |
| Punta Gorda | $36,100 | 220 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $36,040 | 41,530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (this page) | $36,010 | 12,200 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $35,650 | 1,430 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $35,500 | 14,870 |
| Jacksonville | $35,340 | 7,430 |
| Port St. Lucie | $35,250 | 980 |
| Homosassa Springs | $35,170 | 150 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $35,060 | 450 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $34,950 | 1,250 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $34,690 | 2,330 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $34,550 | 1,340 |
| Ocala | $34,330 | 390 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $34,120 | 140 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $34,100 | 1,330 |
| Gainesville | $33,950 | 770 |
| Tallahassee | $33,930 | 830 |
| Sebring | $32,610 | 130 |
Florida unemployment rate: 4.5% (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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (FL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,710 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $65,340 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,780 |
Other job titles for this job
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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.