How much does a security guard make in Des Moines?
$37,550a year
Median yearly pay for security guards in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $18.05 an hour or $3,129 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.05
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 155 of 389
- Jobs in the area
- 2,360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,380Median: $37,550Highest 10%: $73,730
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,380 | $14.61 | |
| 25th | $34,340 | $16.51 | |
| Median | $37,550 | $18.05 | |
| 75th | $46,740 | $22.47 | |
| 90th | $73,730 | $35.45 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for security guards.
| Omaha, NE | $42,370 |
| Iowa City, IA | $39,540 |
| Waterloo, IA | $38,670 |
| Sioux City, IA | $38,480 |
| Dubuque, IA | $37,620 |
| Ames, IA | $37,430 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,940 |
| Davenport, IA | $36,800 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Des Moines, IAFrequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $18.05 ($37,550 a year).
Do security guards make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $37,550 against $38,020 nationally, 1% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $37,080, so Des Moines pays 1% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for security guard pay?
155 of 389 metro areas with data.
How much does a security guard make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $73,730 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.