SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Security Guards in Santa Cruz, CA is $43,610 per year, 14.7% above the national median of $38,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Security Guards in Santa Cruz, CA is $43,610 per year, 14.7% above the national median of $38,020. Pay ranges from under $36,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $67,620 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,640 to $48,870.
The area has 470 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 4.8 of every thousand jobs. Napa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 282nd of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,480 | −4.1% |
| 25th | $37,640 | −1.0% |
| Median (50th) | $43,610 | +14.7% |
| 75th | $48,870 | +28.5% |
| 90th | $67,620 | +77.9% |
| Mean | $47,870 | +25.9% |
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 Maria | $43,250 | 800 | |
| 6 | San Luis Obispo | $42,980 | 530 | |
| 7 | Vallejo | $42,800 | 950 | |
| 8 | Redding | $42,330 | 490 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $40,960 | 1,880 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $40,030 | 83,280 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $43,610 buys what $39,395 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 3.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,395US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,610 a year, 14.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,480 to $67,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 470 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 Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $43,610, or $20.96 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 Santa Cruz, CA is 14.7% 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 Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $67,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,480 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 470 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, 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