BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Security Guards in Missouri

$45,100 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$21.68 per hour

▲ 6.2% above U.S. average13th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$45,100per year
Median$40,390per year
Hourly$21.68per hour
10th – 90th percentile$31,040 – $68,860per year

Security Guards Pay Range in Missouri

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,040
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$36,040
  • 50th Percentile — Median$40,390
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$48,020
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$68,860

Half of Security Guards in Missouri earn more than $40,390. The top 10% make $68,860 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,040.

Security Guards in Missouri: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Missouri ranks 13th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $45,100 per year (6.2% above the U.S. average of $42,470).
  • 18,630 people work as Security Guards in Missouri — 1.5% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.77: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Missouri than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,040; the top 10% earn over $68,860.
  • Hourly equivalent: $21.68 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
  • Among public safety jobs in Missouri, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($91,070).

Security Guards Job Market in Missouri

Key factors affecting compensation

Missouri's key industries are Healthcare, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $45,100 on average, placing the state 13th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Missouri salary of $45,100 is roughly equivalent to $51,839 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($46,300), Colorado ($45,870), Minnesota ($45,460) are the closest alternatives for Security Guards weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Security Guards salary in Missouri?

The average Security Guards salary in Missouri is $45,100 per year (median $40,390), which is 6.2% above the national average of $42,470.

How does Missouri rank for Security Guards pay?

Missouri ranks 13th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).

How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Missouri?

The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Missouri earn about $31,040 per year and the 25th percentile is $36,040.

How much do Security Guards make per hour in Missouri?

About $21.68 per hour, based on the $45,100 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Security Guards work in Missouri?

BLS counts 18,630 Security Guards jobs in Missouri (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data