Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Idaho is $38,300/year ($18.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $40,797 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 43.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Idaho?
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What this looks like in Idaho
Security guards pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 43.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Idaho
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | $79K | +105% | 570 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $39K | +1% | 330 |
| Pocatello | $38K | -1% | 100 |
| Boise City | $37K | -2% | 2,080 |
| Lewiston | $37K | -4% | 80 |
| Twin Falls | $32K | -16% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 43.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,922/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for security guards?
Idaho pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Idaho?
The median is $38,300 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,030, and experienced security guards can clear $78,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,638/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 43.1% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $40,797 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.