SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $36,820, median pay for Security Guards in Merced, CA tracks the national median of $38,020 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,820, median pay for Security Guards in Merced, CA tracks the national median of $38,020 closely. Pay ranges from under $34,320 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,260 to $45,650.
The area has 400 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.62 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Napa records the highest median at $47,240. Of the 272 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 247th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | −9.7% |
| 25th | $35,260 | −7.3% |
| Median (50th) | $36,820 | −3.2% |
| 75th | $45,650 | +20.1% |
| 90th | $48,380 | +27.2% |
| Mean | $40,660 | +6.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa | $47,240 | 760 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $46,250 | 11,800 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $45,730 | 26,830 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $45,160 | 1,560 | |
| 5 | Santa Cruz | $43,610 | 470 | |
| 6 | Santa Maria | $43,250 | 800 | |
| 7 | San Luis Obispo | $42,980 | 530 | |
| 8 | Vallejo | $42,800 | 950 | |
| 9 | Redding | $42,330 | 490 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $40,960 | 1,880 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $36,820 buys what $33,261 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,261US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,820 a year, 3.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,320 to $48,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Napa, at $47,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $36,820, or $17.70 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 Merced, CA is 3.2% 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 Merced, CA earns more than $48,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,320 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 Napa, at $47,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Merced, CA. 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.
Explore related data