Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in New Mexico is $43,320/year ($20.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $46,551 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in New Mexico?
About security guards
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What this looks like in New Mexico
New Mexico sits well above the national pay line for security guards, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 37.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $45K | +3% | 4,440 |
| Santa Fe | $41K | -5% | 630 |
| Las Cruces | $37K | -15% | 650 |
| Farmington | $37K | -15% | 500 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 37.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,813/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $43K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for security guards?
New Mexico pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in New Mexico?
The median is $43,320 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,220, and experienced security guards can clear $64,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,977/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 37.6% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $46,551 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.