How much does a security guard make in Santa Cruz?
$43,610a year
Median yearly pay for security guards in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $20.97 an hour or $3,634 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.97
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 47 of 389
- Jobs in the area
- 470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,480Median: $43,610Highest 10%: $67,620
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,480 | $17.54 | |
| 25th | $37,640 | $18.10 | |
| Median | $43,610 | $20.97 | |
| 75th | $48,870 | $23.50 | |
| 90th | $67,620 | $32.51 |
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 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 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in Santa Cruz, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $20.97 ($43,610 a year).
Do security guards make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $43,610 against $38,020 nationally, 15% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $43,240, so Santa Cruz pays 1% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for security guard pay?
47 of 389 metro areas with data.
How much does a security guard make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,480 or less a year; the top 10% make $67,620 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.