Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Oklahoma is $36,270/year ($17.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $41,470 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,081/month, about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Oklahoma?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Security guards pay in Oklahoma tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,081/month, which is 43.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Oklahoma
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Oklahoma
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | $37K | +1% | 3,390 |
| Oklahoma City | $36K | +0% | 4,890 |
| Enid | $33K | -8% | 60 |
| Lawton | $33K | -8% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 43.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,616/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 Oklahoma?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for security guards?
Oklahoma pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Oklahoma?
The median is $36,270 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,940, and experienced security guards can clear $56,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,496/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 43.3% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $41,470 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.