Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Iowa is $37,080/year ($17.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $41,729 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 42.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Security guards pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 42.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $40K | +7% | 270 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $39K | +4% | 380 |
| Sioux City | $38K | +4% | 350 |
| Dubuque | $38K | +1% | 170 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $38K | +1% | 2,360 |
| Ames | $37K | +1% | 260 |
| Cedar Rapids | $37K | -0% | 1,070 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $37K | -1% | 1,040 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,821/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for security guards?
Iowa pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Iowa?
The median is $37,080 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,350, and experienced security guards can clear $59,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,512/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 42.4% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $41,729 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.