How much does a security guard make in San Diego?
$38,500a year
Median yearly pay for security guards in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $18.51 an hour or $3,208 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.51
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 127 of 389
- Jobs in the area
- 16,090
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,090Median: $38,500Highest 10%: $53,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,090 | $17.35 | |
| 25th | $37,150 | $17.86 | |
| Median | $38,500 | $18.51 | |
| 75th | $45,580 | $21.91 | |
| 90th | $53,310 | $25.63 |
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 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $40,030 |
| Sacramento, CA | $39,460 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,990 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $38,530 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Diego, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $18.51 ($38,500 a year).
Do security guards make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $38,500 against $38,020 nationally, 1% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $43,240, so San Diego pays 11% less.
Where does San Diego rank for security guard pay?
127 of 389 metro areas with data.
How much does a security guard make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,090 or less a year; the top 10% make $53,310 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.