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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Security Associate in California is $42,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.
However, a Security Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Security Associate Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $44,700 | $3,725 | $860 | $21 |
| Average | $42,700 | $3,558 | $821 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,600 | $3,300 | $762 | $19 |
California Academy of Sciences - San Francisco, CA
Catalina Island Company - Avalon, CA
Quantech Services - La Canada Flintridge, CA
Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Los Angeles, CA
A Security Associate's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Security Associate's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Security Associate | 0-1 years | $42,682 |
| Security Guard II | 3-5 years | $52,465 |
| Security Patrol Supervisor | 5+ years | $65,509 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Security Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Security Associate salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $47,800. While startup companies pay approximate $40,438.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $40,438 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $42,768 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $46,160 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $47,800 |
For Security Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Security Associate positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Security Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $59,780 | $29.0 | 40% |
| Biotechnology | $55,510 | $27.0 | 30% |
| Financial Services | $53,375 | $26.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $51,240 | $25.0 | 20% |
| Software & Networking | $51,240 | $25.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Security Associate's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $44,700 | $3,725 | $860 | $21 |
| Average | $42,700 | $3,558 | $821 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,600 | $3,300 | $762 | $19 |
For a Security Associate, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Security Guard II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $52,500 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Security Associate job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Northrop Grumman (Corporate)
El Segundo, CA
Northrop Grumman (Corporate) | El Segundo, CA
Associate Industrial Security Analyst. At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people... more
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Allied Universal
Santa Monica, CA
Allied Universal | Santa Monica, CA
Allied Universal - - Responsibilities: Provide customer service to tenants, visitors, and property staff by carrying out security-related procedures, site-... more
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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Los Angeles, CA
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Los Angeles, CA
Safety & Security AssociateThe Safety & Security Associate will provide security for the facility and ensure the safety of the exhibits, art objects, visit... more
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Keylent Inc
San Francisco, CA
Keylent Inc | San Francisco, CA
Associate Security Consultant MAHIN-JOB-32157Location: SAN FRANCISCO Google Chronicle SIEM Job Description:The SME/Team Lead will be responsible for design... more
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Six Flags
Santa Clara, CA
Six Flags | Santa Clara, CA
Overview:Earn $26.00/hrJoining our Loss Prevention Team means investigating and surveilling park operations to prevent loss of money, merchandise, or compa... more
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ACL Digital
Mountain View, CA
ACL Digital | Mountain View, CA
Job PostingSite Address:3150 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051 Qualcomm Building:SCL.E Onsite Requirement:100% Onsite - Red Interview Method:Video ... more
7 Days Ago
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