BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Security Guards in Ohio

$39,950 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$19.21 per hour

▼ 5.9% below U.S. average37th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$39,950per year
Median$35,770per year
Hourly$19.21per hour
10th – 90th percentile$29,030 – $55,440per year

Security Guards Pay Range in Ohio

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$29,030
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$31,140
  • 50th Percentile — Median$35,770
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$44,500
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$55,440

Half of Security Guards in Ohio earn more than $35,770. The top 10% make $55,440 or more, while entry-level workers start around $29,030.

Security Guards in Ohio: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Ohio ranks 37th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $39,950 per year (5.9% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
  • 34,450 people work as Security Guards in Ohio — 2.7% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.75: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Ohio than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,030; the top 10% earn over $55,440.
  • Hourly equivalent: $19.21 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
  • Among public safety jobs in Ohio, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($99,370).

Security Guards Job Market in Ohio

Key factors affecting compensation

Ohio's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $39,950 on average, placing the state 37th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Ohio salary of $39,950 is roughly equivalent to $45,398 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($40,350), Rhode Island ($40,320), South Dakota ($40,250) 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 Ohio?

The average Security Guards salary in Ohio is $39,950 per year (median $35,770), which is 5.9% below the national average of $42,470.

How does Ohio rank for Security Guards pay?

Ohio ranks 37th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).

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

The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Ohio earn about $29,030 per year and the 25th percentile is $31,140.

How much do Security Guards make per hour in Ohio?

About $19.21 per hour, based on the $39,950 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Security Guards work in Ohio?

BLS counts 34,450 Security Guards jobs in Ohio (OEWS May 2025).

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