As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly pay of Private Security Guard in the United States is $26. While Salary.com is seeing that Private Security Guard salary in the US can go up to $31 or down to $23, but most earn between $24 and $28. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Private Security Guard in the United States.
| Percentile | Hourly Pay Rate | Location | Last Updated |
| 10th Percentile Private Security Guard Salary | $23 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 25th Percentile Private Security Guard Salary | $24 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 50th Percentile Private Security Guard Salary | $26 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 75th Percentile Private Security Guard Salary | $28 | US | April 01, 2026 |
| 90th Percentile Private Security Guard Salary | $31 | US | April 01, 2026 |
A security guard (also known as a security inspector or protective agent) is a person employed by a public or private party to protect the employing party's assets (property, people, equipment, money, etc.) from a variety of hazards (such as waste, damaged property, unsafe worker behavior, criminal activity such as theft, etc.) by enforcing preventative measures. Security guards do this by maintaining a high-visibility presence to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, looking (either directly, through patrols, or indirectly, by monitoring alarm systems or video surveillance cameras) for si...
Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia
See user submitted job responsibilities for Private Security Guard.
0 - 1 years experience
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
3 - 5 years experience
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
3 + years experience
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
| Job Title | Experience | EDUCATION | Salary Compared to This Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title Crossing Guard | Experience | Education | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Security Director | Experience | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Security Guard - Unarmed | Experience 0 - 1 | EducationHigh School | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Security Guard Team Leader | Experience 3 + | EducationHigh School | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Security Manager | Experience 5 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
Core compensation
Includes base and short-term incentives
Recently searched related titles: Contract Program Security Officer, Hospital Security Guard, Externship Coordinator
Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role
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