Security Guards Pay Range in Massachusetts
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$34,830
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,720
- 50th Percentile — Median$44,670
- 75th Percentile — Senior$45,760
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$55,800
Half of Security Guards in Massachusetts earn more than $44,670. The top 10% make $55,800 or more, while entry-level workers start around $34,830.
Security Guards in Massachusetts: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Massachusetts ranks 16th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $44,760 per year (5.4% above the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 23,930 people work as Security Guards in Massachusetts — 1.9% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 0.80: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Massachusetts than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,830; the top 10% earn over $55,800.
- Hourly equivalent: $21.52 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Massachusetts, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($118,130).
Security Guards Job Market in Massachusetts
Key factors affecting compensation
Massachusetts's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Security Guards here earn $44,760 on average, placing the state 16th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.3 (U.S. = 1.00), a Massachusetts salary of $44,760 is roughly equivalent to $34,431 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Connecticut ($45,180), Missouri ($45,100), Nebraska ($45,000) 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 Massachusetts
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $118,130/yr Massachusetts +163.9% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $112,480/yr Massachusetts +151.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $100,680/yr Massachusetts +124.9% vs this role
- Police Officers $83,230/yr Massachusetts +85.9% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $82,890/yr Massachusetts +85.2% vs this role
- Firefighters $73,220/yr Massachusetts +63.6% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $70,110/yr Massachusetts +56.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Massachusetts?
The average Security Guards salary in Massachusetts is $44,760 per year (median $44,670), which is 5.4% above the national average of $42,470.
How does Massachusetts rank for Security Guards pay?
Massachusetts ranks 16th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Massachusetts?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Massachusetts earn about $34,830 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,720.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Massachusetts?
About $21.52 per hour, based on the $44,760 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Massachusetts?
BLS counts 23,930 Security Guards jobs in Massachusetts (OEWS May 2025).
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