Security Guards Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,520
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,060
- 50th Percentile — Median$39,490
- 75th Percentile — Senior$46,360
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$63,950
Half of Security Guards in Illinois earn more than $39,490. The top 10% make $63,950 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,520.
Security Guards in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 18th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $44,240 per year (4.2% above the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 53,830 people work as Security Guards in Illinois — 4.2% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 1.07: Security Guards jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,520; the top 10% earn over $63,950.
- Hourly equivalent: $21.27 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Illinois, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($126,760).
Security Guards Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Security Guards here earn $44,240 on average, placing the state 18th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $44,240 is roughly equivalent to $42,133 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Nebraska ($45,000), California ($44,920), Massachusetts ($44,760) are the closest alternatives for Security Guards weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $126,760/yr Illinois +186.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $115,980/yr Illinois +162.2% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $97,480/yr Illinois +120.3% vs this role
- Police Officers $92,450/yr Illinois +109.0% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $78,080/yr Illinois +76.5% vs this role
- Firefighters $76,530/yr Illinois +73.0% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $64,440/yr Illinois +45.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Illinois?
The average Security Guards salary in Illinois is $44,240 per year (median $39,490), which is 4.2% above the national average of $42,470.
How does Illinois rank for Security Guards pay?
Illinois ranks 18th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Illinois earn about $35,520 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,060.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Illinois?
About $21.27 per hour, based on the $44,240 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Illinois?
BLS counts 53,830 Security Guards jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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