BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Security Guards in New York

$46,450 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$22.33 per hour

▲ 9.4% above U.S. average7th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$46,450per year
Median$44,240per year
Hourly$22.33per hour
10th – 90th percentile$35,650 – $60,580per year

Security Guards Pay Range in New York

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,650
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$37,210
  • 50th Percentile — Median$44,240
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$51,850
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$60,580

Half of Security Guards in New York earn more than $44,240. The top 10% make $60,580 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,650.

Security Guards in New York: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • New York ranks 7th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $46,450 per year (9.4% above the U.S. average of $42,470).
  • 134,700 people work as Security Guards in New York — 10.5% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.68: Security Guards jobs are more concentrated in New York than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,650; the top 10% earn over $60,580.
  • Hourly equivalent: $22.33 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
  • Among public safety jobs in New York, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($129,240).

Security Guards Job Market in New York

Key factors affecting compensation

New York's key industries are Finance, Technology, Media, and its job market is rated very strong. Security Guards here earn $46,450 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (U.S. = 1.00), a New York salary of $46,450 is roughly equivalent to $33,659 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Vermont ($50,770), Washington ($50,770), New Hampshire ($47,850) 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 New York?

The average Security Guards salary in New York is $46,450 per year (median $44,240), which is 9.4% above the national average of $42,470.

How does New York rank for Security Guards pay?

New York ranks 7th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).

How much do entry-level Security Guards make in New York?

The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in New York earn about $35,650 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,210.

How much do Security Guards make per hour in New York?

About $22.33 per hour, based on the $46,450 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Security Guards work in New York?

BLS counts 134,700 Security Guards jobs in New York (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data