Security Guards Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for security guards in California was $43,240 +13.7% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $43,240 | $38,020 |
| Median hourly | $20.79 | $18.28 |
| Employment | 199,480 | 1,283,470 |
| Location quotient | 1.33 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What the data says
At $20.79 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $43,243 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $43,240.
With approximately 199,480 security guards employed in California, this is a major occupation in the labor market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average security guards salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $43,240 ($20.79 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for security guards?
The California median of $43,240 is 13.7% higher than the U.S. median of $38,020.
How many security guards work in California?
Approximately 199,480 are employed in California, per BLS OES.