Security Guards Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $38,590 +0.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.56
10th percentile $31,540
90th percentile $59,890
Employed locally 25,150
National median $38,370

Compare Security Guards salary & buying power

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,540
    25th
    $35,760
    50th (median)
    $38,590
    75th
    $46,450
    90th
    $59,890

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Security Guards salary vs area income 43% Median Security Guards salary is 57% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $46,080
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $45,860
    Napa, CA $43,560
    Chambersburg, PA $42,190
    Lexington Park, MD $40,060
    Reading, PA $38,790

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $90,640
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $64,520
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers $37,840
    Firefighters $78,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $120,960
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $34,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Security Guards make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Security Guards in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $18.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.87 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Security Guards salaries?

    The median Security Guards salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 0.6% 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Security Guards (10th percentile) earn around $31,540 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,760.