Security Guards Pay Range in Montana
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,800
- 25th Percentile — Junior$35,260
- 50th Percentile — Median$38,480
- 75th Percentile — Senior$46,300
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$57,310
Half of Security Guards in Montana earn more than $38,480. The top 10% make $57,310 or more, while entry-level workers start around $28,800.
Security Guards in Montana: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Montana ranks 26th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $42,270 per year (0.5% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 1,610 people work as Security Guards in Montana — 0.1% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 0.38: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Montana than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,800; the top 10% earn over $57,310.
- Hourly equivalent: $20.32 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Montana, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($93,800).
Security Guards Job Market in Montana
Key factors affecting compensation
Montana's key industries are Agriculture, Tourism, Energy, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $42,270 on average, placing the state 26th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.95 (U.S. = 1.00), a Montana salary of $42,270 is roughly equivalent to $44,495 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($43,470), North Dakota ($43,150), Utah ($43,050) 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 Montana
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $93,800/yr Montana +121.9% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $93,560/yr Montana +121.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $85,620/yr Montana +102.6% vs this role
- Police Officers $69,540/yr Montana +64.5% vs this role
- Firefighters $57,660/yr Montana +36.4% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $52,980/yr Montana +25.3% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $52,540/yr Montana +24.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Montana?
The average Security Guards salary in Montana is $42,270 per year (median $38,480), which is 0.5% below the national average of $42,470.
How does Montana rank for Security Guards pay?
Montana ranks 26th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Montana?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Montana earn about $28,800 per year and the 25th percentile is $35,260.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Montana?
About $20.32 per hour, based on the $42,270 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Montana?
BLS counts 1,610 Security Guards jobs in Montana (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data