Security Guards Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,350
- 25th Percentile — Junior$34,480
- 50th Percentile — Median$37,080
- 75th Percentile — Senior$45,590
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$59,290
Half of Security Guards in Iowa earn more than $37,080. The top 10% make $59,290 or more, while entry-level workers start around $30,350.
Security Guards in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 27th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $42,220 per year (0.6% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 6,890 people work as Security Guards in Iowa — 0.5% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 0.54: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,350; the top 10% earn over $59,290.
- Hourly equivalent: $20.3 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Iowa, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($101,540).
Security Guards Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $42,220 on average, placing the state 27th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $42,220 is roughly equivalent to $49,093 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Dakota ($43,150), Utah ($43,050), Wyoming ($42,660) 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 Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $101,540/yr Iowa +140.5% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $87,110/yr Iowa +106.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $83,040/yr Iowa +96.7% vs this role
- Police Officers $76,280/yr Iowa +80.7% vs this role
- Firefighters $57,240/yr Iowa +35.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $57,140/yr Iowa +35.3% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $48,190/yr Iowa +14.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Iowa?
The average Security Guards salary in Iowa is $42,220 per year (median $37,080), which is 0.6% below the national average of $42,470.
How does Iowa rank for Security Guards pay?
Iowa ranks 27th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Iowa earn about $30,350 per year and the 25th percentile is $34,480.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Iowa?
About $20.3 per hour, based on the $42,220 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Iowa?
BLS counts 6,890 Security Guards jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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