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How much does a security guard make in Washington?

$46,830a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $22.51 an hour or $3,903 a month.

Hourly
$22.51
Vs. national median
+23%
Rank among cities
13 of 389
Jobs in the area
40,950
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,530Median: $46,830Highest 10%: $78,790
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$36,530$17.56
25th$38,660$18.59
Median$46,830$22.51
75th$71,030$34.15
90th$78,790$37.88

Other cities in District of Columbia

Median yearly pay for security guards.

No other city in the state with data.
Security Guard salary in District of Columbia Security Guard salary in all states

Related jobs in Washington

Same field, median yearly pay.

Detective and Criminal Investigator$156,800
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$126,000
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$118,600
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$99,510
Fire Inspector and Investigator$87,630
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$84,000
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$73,490
Correctional Officer and Jailer$70,570
Transportation Security Screener$69,910
Firefighter$66,980
Salaries for every job in Washington, DC

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make an hour in Washington?

The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $22.51 ($46,830 a year).

Do security guards make more in Washington than the national average?

Yes: $46,830 against $38,020 nationally, 23% more.

How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?

The median in District of Columbia is $64,210, so Washington pays 27% less.

Where does Washington rank for security guard pay?

13 of 389 metro areas with data.

How much does a security guard make starting out in Washington?

The lowest-paid 10% make $36,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $78,790 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.