Security Guards Pay Range in Pennsylvania
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,050
- 25th Percentile — Junior$34,570
- 50th Percentile — Median$37,050
- 75th Percentile — Senior$44,300
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$54,830
Half of Security Guards in Pennsylvania earn more than $37,050. The top 10% make $54,830 or more, while entry-level workers start around $30,050.
Security Guards in Pennsylvania: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Pennsylvania ranks 36th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $40,180 per year (5.4% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 43,610 people work as Security Guards in Pennsylvania — 3.4% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Pennsylvania than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,050; the top 10% earn over $54,830.
- Hourly equivalent: $19.32 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Pennsylvania, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($106,920).
Security Guards Job Market in Pennsylvania
Key factors affecting compensation
Pennsylvania's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Finance, and its job market is rated strong. Security Guards here earn $40,180 on average, placing the state 36th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.99 (U.S. = 1.00), a Pennsylvania salary of $40,180 is roughly equivalent to $40,586 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Michigan ($40,640), Kansas ($40,350), Rhode Island ($40,320) 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 Pennsylvania
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $106,920/yr Pennsylvania +166.1% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $101,760/yr Pennsylvania +153.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $96,250/yr Pennsylvania +139.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $81,910/yr Pennsylvania +103.9% vs this role
- Firefighters $71,340/yr Pennsylvania +77.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $64,650/yr Pennsylvania +60.9% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $59,880/yr Pennsylvania +49.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Pennsylvania?
The average Security Guards salary in Pennsylvania is $40,180 per year (median $37,050), which is 5.4% below the national average of $42,470.
How does Pennsylvania rank for Security Guards pay?
Pennsylvania ranks 36th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Pennsylvania?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Pennsylvania earn about $30,050 per year and the 25th percentile is $34,570.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Pennsylvania?
About $19.32 per hour, based on the $40,180 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Pennsylvania?
BLS counts 43,610 Security Guards jobs in Pennsylvania (OEWS May 2025).
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