Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Indiana is $36,490/year ($17.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $39,745 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,144/month, about 45.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Indiana?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Indiana
Security guards pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,144/month, which is 45.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Indiana
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokomo | $44K | +21% | 110 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $38K | +5% | 120 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $37K | +0% | 590 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $36K | +0% | 9,910 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $36K | -1% | 570 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $36K | -1% | 900 |
| Bloomington | $36K | -3% | 600 |
| Fort Wayne | $35K | -4% | 1,240 |
| Columbus | $35K | -5% | 250 |
| Evansville | $34K | -7% | 590 |
| Terre Haute | $34K | -8% | 330 |
| Muncie | $33K | -11% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 45.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/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 Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,791/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for security guards?
Indiana pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Indiana?
The median is $36,490 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,850, and experienced security guards can clear $59,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,521/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 45.4% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $39,745 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.