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Security Guards Salary in California

What Security Guards earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 16 counties.

Average in CA
$40,717
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
14 of 32
published states
Workers in state
194,520
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
6
16 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Security Guards pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$46,250$38,419−$4,528Santa Clara County, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$45,730$38,032$940Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$40,030$33,680−$4,756Los Angeles County, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$39,460$33,244$2,117Sacramento County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$38,500$32,511−$5,120San Diego County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$37,280$31,580$1,509Riverside County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Security Guards in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Yolo County, CA$39,460$33,244$3,593
2Sacramento County, CA$39,460$33,244$2,117
3Placer County, CA$39,460$33,244$2,117
4El Dorado County, CA$39,460$33,244$2,117
5Riverside County, CA$37,280$31,580$1,509
6San Bernardino County, CA$37,280$31,580$1,509
7San Benito County, CA$46,250$38,419$1,256
8Alameda County, CA$45,730$38,032$940
9Contra Costa County, CA$45,730$38,032$940
10Santa Clara County, CA$46,250$38,419−$4,528
11Los Angeles County, CA$40,030$33,680−$4,756
12San Diego County, CA$38,500$32,511−$5,120
13Orange County, CA$40,030$33,680−$7,252
14San Francisco County, CA$45,730$38,032−$7,616
15San Mateo County, CA$45,730$38,032−$7,616
16Marin County, CA$45,730$38,032−$7,616

Security Guards pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Security Guards in California is $40,717, based on 194,520 workers. Among the 32 states with published data, that ranks number 14. The BLS national median for the occupation is $38,020, so California averages 7.1% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $46,250 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area and the lowest is $37,280 in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, a difference of $8,970 across 6 wage areas.

Cost of living for Security Guards in California

We compare 16 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Yolo County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $3,593. In Marin County, CA the basics cost $7,616 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 9 of the 16 counties.

Security Guards in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Security Guards are District of Columbia ($46,830), Washington ($46,540), Oregon ($45,547) and New Hampshire ($44,950).

Frequently asked questions: Security Guards in California

How much do Security Guards earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $40,717, from $37,280 to $46,250 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Security Guards?

Yolo County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($3,593). Sacramento County, CA follows at $2,117.