How much does a security guard make in Chicago?

$39,990a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $19.23 an hour or $3,333 a month.

Hourly: $19.23
Vs. national median: +5%
Rank among cities: 96 of 389
Jobs in the area: 48,360

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $35,940Median: $39,990Highest 10%: $64,180

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$35,940	$17.28
25th	$37,060	$17.82
Median	$39,990	$19.23
75th	$46,360	$22.29
90th	$64,180	$30.86

Other cities in Illinois

Median yearly pay for security guards.

St. Louis, MO	$42,600
Springfield, IL	$42,240
Decatur, IL	$41,220
Peoria, IL	$38,530
Rockford, IL	$36,960
Davenport, IA	$36,800
Cape Girardeau, MO	$36,630
Paducah, KY	$36,370
Bloomington, IL	$35,520
Kankakee, IL	$35,380
Champaign, IL	$34,250

Security Guard salary in Illinois Security Guard salary in all states

Related jobs in Chicago

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$135,100
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$126,200
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$107,800
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$105,500
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$102,300
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$90,920
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$84,550
Firefighter	$82,820
Transportation Security Screener	$70,570
Private Detective and Investigator	$68,310

Salaries for every job in Chicago, IL

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make an hour in Chicago?

The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $19.23 ($39,990 a year).

Do security guards make more in Chicago than the national average?

Yes: $39,990 against $38,020 nationally, 5% more.

How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?

The median in Illinois is $39,490, so Chicago pays 1% more.

Where does Chicago rank for security guard pay?

96 of 389 metro areas with data.

How much does a security guard make starting out in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% make $35,940 or less a year; the top 10% make $64,180 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.