Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Nebraska is $39,840/year ($19.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $44,242 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 41% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Nebraska?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Security guards pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $42K | +6% | 3,170 |
| Grand Island | $39K | -2% | 90 |
| Lincoln | $37K | -8% | 710 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/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 Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,041/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for security guards?
Nebraska pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Nebraska?
The median is $39,840 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,020, and experienced security guards can clear $70,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,735/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 40.7% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $44,242 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.