Security Guard Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Alaska is $47,480/year ($22.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $45,518 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 48.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Alaska, month by month
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for security guards, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,643/month, which is 49.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $60K | +27% | 130 |
| Anchorage | $47K | -2% | 1,090 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 49.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,615/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is security guard a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $47K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for security guards?
Alaska pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Alaska?
The median is $47,480 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,520, and experienced security guards can clear $76,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,349/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 49.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a security guards salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security guards salary is worth about $45,518 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do security guards get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.