How much does a security guard make in San Jose?

$46,250a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $22.24 an hour or $3,854 a month.

Hourly: $22.24
Vs. national median: +22%
Rank among cities: 17 of 389
Jobs in the area: 11,800

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $43,900Median: $46,250Highest 10%: $66,970

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$43,900	$21.11
25th	$45,230	$21.75
Median	$46,250	$22.24
75th	$54,480	$26.19
90th	$66,970	$32.20

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for security guards.

Napa, CA	$47,240
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
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 San Jose

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$171,700
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$163,700
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$158,600
Firefighter	$152,100
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$136,100
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$132,700
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker	$92,410
Transportation Security Screener	$78,940
Parking Enforcement Worker	$70,590
Private Detective and Investigator	$64,060

Salaries for every job in San Jose, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make an hour in San Jose?

The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $22.24 ($46,250 a year).

Do security guards make more in San Jose than the national average?

Yes: $46,250 against $38,020 nationally, 22% more.

How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $43,240, so San Jose pays 7% more.

Where does San Jose rank for security guard pay?

17 of 389 metro areas with data.

How much does a security guard make starting out in San Jose?

The lowest-paid 10% make $43,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $66,970 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.