SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Yakima
Yakima, WA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Security Guards in Yakima, WA is $37,440 per year, close to the national median of $38,020 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Security Guards in Yakima, WA is $37,440 per year, close to the national median of $38,020 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $36,120 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,900 to $46,110.
Employment stands at 400, or 4.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Kennewick leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 271st of 292 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,120 | −5.0% |
| 25th | $36,900 | −2.9% |
| Median (50th) | $37,440 | −1.5% |
| 75th | $46,110 | +21.3% |
| 90th | $61,350 | +61.4% |
| Mean | $43,350 | +14.0% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick | $54,670 | 500 | |
| 2 | Walla Walla | $48,770 | 60 | |
| 3 | Seattle | $47,490 | 17,030 | |
| 4 | Mount Vernon | $46,090 | 220 | |
| 5 | Bremerton | $45,540 | 590 | |
| 6 | Longview | $45,370 | 140 | |
| 7 | Bellingham | $44,310 | 380 | |
| 8 | Olympia | $43,920 | 840 | |
| 9 | Spokane | $41,310 | 2,270 | |
| 10 | Wenatchee | $40,860 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Yakima run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $37,440 buys what $34,991 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,991US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,440 a year, 1.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,120 to $61,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kennewick, at $54,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in Yakima, WA?
The median annual wage is $37,440, or $18.00 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 Yakima, WA is 1.5% 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 Yakima, WA earns more than $61,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,120 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 Kennewick, at $54,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Yakima, WA. 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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