SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Iowa
Iowa · 8 metro areas compared
At $37,080, median pay for Security Guards in Iowa tracks the national median of $38,020 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $37,080, median pay for Security Guards in Iowa tracks the national median of $38,020 closely. Pay ranges from under $30,350 at the tenth percentile to more than $59,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,480 to $45,590.
Employment stands at 6,890, or 4.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa ranks number 31st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Iowa City records the highest median at $39,540. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 638th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,350 | −20.2% |
| 25th | $34,480 | −9.3% |
| Median (50th) | $37,080 | −2.5% |
| 75th | $45,590 | +19.9% |
| 90th | $59,290 | +55.9% |
| Mean | $42,220 | +11.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $39,540 | 270 | |
| 2 | Waterloo | $38,670 | 380 | |
| 3 | Sioux City | $38,480 | 350 | |
| 4 | Dubuque | $37,620 | 170 | |
| 5 | Des Moines | $37,550 | 2,360 | |
| 6 | Ames | $37,430 | 260 | |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $36,940 | 1,070 | |
| 8 | Davenport | $36,800 | 1,040 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $37,080 goes as far as $42,232 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,232US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,080 a year, 2.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,350 to $59,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,890 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $39,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $37,080, or $17.83 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,020, so pay in Iowa is 2.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $59,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,350 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Iowa City, at $39,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,890 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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