SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — New York
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 10 metro areas compared
In New York, NY the median wage for Security Guards is $43,980 a year, which is 15.7% higher than the national figure of $38,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In New York, NY the median wage for Security Guards is $43,980 a year, which is 15.7% higher than the national figure of $38,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,940 and $51,530. The lowest tenth earn under $35,360, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,720.
The area has 142,760 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 15.0 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Ithaca records the highest median at $49,540. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 680th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,360 | −7.0% |
| 25th | $36,940 | −2.8% |
| Median (50th) | $43,980 | +15.7% |
| 75th | $51,530 | +35.5% |
| 90th | $60,720 | +59.7% |
| Mean | $46,140 | +21.4% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ithaca | $49,540 | 240 | |
| 2 | Syracuse | $45,050 | 1,770 | |
| 3 | Kingston | $44,790 | 280 | |
| 4 | Utica | $44,420 | 950 | |
| 5 | Albany | $43,250 | 2,340 | |
| 6 | Kiryas Joel | $42,910 | 3,080 | |
| 7 | Rochester | $42,860 | 3,300 | |
| 8 | Watertown | $42,680 | 200 | |
| 9 | Binghamton | $42,070 | 640 | |
| 10 | Elmira | $40,130 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $43,980 buys what $40,760 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,760US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,980 a year, 15.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,360 to $60,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 142,760 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ithaca, at $49,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in New York, NY?
The median annual wage is $43,980, or $21.15 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 New York, NY is 15.7% higher. 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 New York, NY earns more than $60,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,360 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 Ithaca, at $49,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 142,760 jobs in this occupation in New York, NY. 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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