How much does a security guard make in Los Angeles?

$40,030a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $19.25 an hour or $3,336 a month.

Hourly: $19.25
Vs. national median: +5%
Rank among cities: 94 of 389
Jobs in the area: 83,280

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $36,300Median: $40,030Highest 10%: $56,750

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$36,300	$17.45
25th	$37,130	$17.85
Median	$40,030	$19.25
75th	$45,730	$21.99
90th	$56,750	$27.28

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for security guards.

Napa, CA	$47,240
San Jose, CA	$46,250
San Francisco, CA	$45,730
Santa Rosa, CA	$45,160
Santa Cruz, CA	$43,610
Santa Maria, CA	$43,250
San Luis Obispo, CA	$42,980
Vallejo, CA	$42,800
Redding, CA	$42,330
Oxnard, CA	$40,960
Sacramento, CA	$39,460
Modesto, CA	$38,990
Salinas, CA	$38,700
Stockton, CA	$38,530
San Diego, CA	$38,500
Bakersfield, CA	$38,440
Hanford, CA	$37,980
Riverside, CA	$37,280
Chico, CA	$37,250
El Centro, CA	$37,230
Fresno, CA	$37,180
Yuba City, CA	$37,180
Visalia, CA	$37,090
Merced, CA	$36,820

Security Guard salary in California Security Guard salary in all states

Related jobs in Los Angeles

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$169,400
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$167,600
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$127,900
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$127,400
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$122,000
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist	$105,500
Firefighter	$98,050
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$94,810
Fire Inspector and Investigator	$94,140
Fish and Game Warden	$87,140

Salaries for every job in Los Angeles, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make an hour in Los Angeles?

The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $19.25 ($40,030 a year).

Do security guards make more in Los Angeles than the national average?

Yes: $40,030 against $38,020 nationally, 5% more.

How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $43,240, so Los Angeles pays 7% less.

Where does Los Angeles rank for security guard pay?

94 of 389 metro areas with data.

How much does a security guard make starting out in Los Angeles?

The lowest-paid 10% make $36,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $56,750 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.