Security Guards Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
The median pay for a security guards in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is $41,500/year ($19.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 86.08), which stretches that salary to about $48,211 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $992/month — about 35% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Cape Girardeau?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cape Girardeau’s Regional Price Parity (86.08). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $63K | +65% | 16,160 |
| Alaska | $49K | +27% | 2,050 |
| Washington | $48K | +25% | 24,820 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +20% | 14,030 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +17% | 24,100 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +16% | 2,630 |
| California | $44K | +14% | 185,510 |
| Oregon | $44K | +14% | 11,550 |
| Virginia | $43K | +13% | 33,440 |
| Vermont | $43K | +12% | 830 |
| New York | $43K | +11% | 132,140 |
| Utah | $42K | +11% | 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $42K | +9% | 9,790 |
| Maine | $41K | +8% | 1,760 |
| Missouri | $41K | +6% | 19,180 |
| Idaho | $41K | +6% | 2,710 |
| Connecticut | $40K | +4% | 12,040 |
| North Dakota | $40K | +4% | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | +2% | 11,670 |
| Nebraska | $39K | +1% | 4,440 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +1% | 3,190 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +1% | 37,970 |
| New Mexico | $39K | +1% | 8,240 |
| Illinois | $39K | +1% | 53,560 |
| Maryland | $39K | +1% | 27,220 |
| Arizona | $39K | +0% | 26,720 |
| Nevada | $38K | -0% | 25,610 |
| Montana | $38K | -0% | 1,440 |
| Michigan | $38K | -1% | 25,760 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 3,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -2% | 43,710 |
| Indiana | $38K | -2% | 17,900 |
| Iowa | $37K | -3% | 6,450 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -3% | 6,290 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -3% | 6,680 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -4% | 1,420 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -5% | 12,320 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -5% | 1,020 |
| Ohio | $36K | -6% | 34,590 |
| Kansas | $36K | -6% | 6,790 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -6% | 28,260 |
| Florida | $36K | -6% | 95,350 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -6% | 29,360 |
| Georgia | $36K | -7% | 35,410 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -7% | 13,500 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -9% | 16,180 |
| Texas | $33K | -13% | 99,370 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -17% | 15,780 |
| Alabama | $31K | -19% | 15,050 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -23% | 9,600 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Cape Girardeau numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do security guards make in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The median is $41,500 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,680, and experienced security guards can clear $47,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Cape Girardeau?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,850/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $992/month, which eats 34.8% 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 Cape Girardeau?
Cape Girardeau has a Regional Price Parity of 86.08 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security guards salary is worth about $48,211 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.