Security Guards Salary in Los Angeles, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Median annual salary $42,940 +11.9% vs national
Median hourly $20.64
10th percentile $36,340
90th percentile $58,540
Employed locally 77,910
National median $38,370

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Type a city below to see how Los Angeles, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Security Guards
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Los Angeles, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,340
    25th
    $37,460
    50th (median)
    $42,940
    75th
    $46,310
    90th
    $58,540

    Los Angeles economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Security Guards salary vs area income 46% Median Security Guards salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Security Guards

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $87,770
    Idaho Falls, ID $79,470
    District of Columbia $63,130
    Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $56,380
    Fairbanks-College, AK $52,850
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $51,320

    Nearby metros — Security Guards salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Ithaca, NY $48,480
    Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $47,270
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $46,740
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $46,030
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,930
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $45,860

    Related occupations in Los Angeles, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,630
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $43,450
    Firefighters $99,210
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $38,230
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $79,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $169,590

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Security Guards make per hour in Los Angeles?

    The median hourly wage for Security Guards in Los Angeles, CA is $20.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.29 or more per hour.

    Is Los Angeles above or below average for Security Guards salaries?

    The median Security Guards salary in Los Angeles, CA is 11.9% above the national median of $38,370. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Security Guards in Los Angeles?

    Entry-level Security Guards (10th percentile) earn around $36,340 per year in Los Angeles, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,460.