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Salary comparison

Transit and Railroad Police vs. Security Guards: Who Earns More?

Transit and Railroad Police out-earn Security Guards by $52K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Transit and Railroad Police land at $90,230 and Security Guards at $38,020. The education gap is real: transit and railroad police programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while security guard programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Transit and Railroad Police is California ($109,650); for Security Guards it's District of Columbia ($64,210).

Transit and Railroad Police
Security Guards
Median salary
$90,230
$38,020
Hourly rate
$43.38/hr
$18.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$57,690
$30,210
Senior level (90th %)
$125,910
$58,840
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
4,390
1,283,470
Job growth (10-year)
3%
0.4%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Transit and Railroad Police median pay.

State
Transit and Railroad Police
Security Guards
California
$109,650
$43,240
New Jersey
$106,290
$38,880
Maryland
$99,420
$38,220
New York
$90,460
$44,240
Utah
$87,770
$42,700
Texas
$78,480
$35,980
Florida
$69,810
$35,900
Missouri
$67,840
$40,390
Georgia
$57,690
$34,980

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Transit and Railroad Police or Security Guards?

Transit and Railroad Police earn more nationally. The median is $90,230 for Transit and Railroad Police versus $38,020 for Security Guards, a difference of $52K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Transit and Railroad Police or Security Guards?

Transit and Railroad Police has the better 10-year outlook at 3% projected growth, compared to 0.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Transit and Railroad Police or Security Guards?

Transit and Railroad Police 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 Transit and Railroad Police get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Transit and Railroad Police at $109,650/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Transit and Railroad Police vs. Security Guards pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Transit and Railroad Police earn $109,650 vs. $43,240 for Security Guards. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Transit and Railroad Police salary breakdownView →Full Security Guards salary breakdownView →Best cities for Transit and Railroad Police by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Security Guards by take-home payExplore →How to become a transit and railroad policeGuide →How to become a security guardsGuide →