Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Bailiffs vs. Security Guards: Who Earns More?

Bailiffss out-earn Security Guardss by $19K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Bailiffss land at $56,600 and Security Guardss at $38,020. The education gap is real: bailiff programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while security guard programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Bailiffss is Connecticut ($111,890); for Security Guardss it's District of Columbia ($64,210).

Bailiffs
Security Guards
Median salary
$56,600
$38,020
Hourly rate
$27.21/hr
$18.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$32,140
$30,210
Senior level (90th %)
$96,770
$58,840
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
17,310
1,283,470
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
Connecticut
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Bailiffs median pay.

State
Bailiffs
Security Guards
Connecticut
$111,890
$39,920
Alaska
$90,600
$47,480
Massachusetts
$86,730
$44,670
Washington
$78,290
$47,100
New York
$77,540
$44,240
Nebraska
$76,090
$39,840
Colorado
$63,320
$45,150
Virginia
$62,290
$43,640
Utah
$57,290
$42,700
Oregon
$57,140
$45,500
Minnesota
$49,890
$43,380
Hawaii
$48,940
$42,820
Illinois
$46,390
$39,490
Missouri
$44,040
$40,390
New Hampshire
$41,010
$45,200

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Bailiffss or Security Guardss?

Bailiffss earn more nationally. The median is $56,600 for Bailiffss versus $38,020 for Security Guardss, a difference of $19K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Bailiffs or Security Guards?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Bailiffs or Security Guards?

Bailiffs typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Security Guards requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Bailiffss get paid the most?

Connecticut is the top-paying state for Bailiffss at $111,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Bailiffs vs. Security Guards pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Connecticut, Bailiffss earn $111,890 vs. $39,920 for Security Guardss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Bailiffs salary breakdownView →Full Security Guards salary breakdownView →Best cities for Bailiffss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Security Guardss by take-home payExplore →How to become a bailiffsGuide →How to become a security guardsGuide →