Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Pennsylvania is $37,050/year ($17.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $39,012 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 52.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Pennsylvania?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Security guards pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 52.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg | $42K | +14% | 210 |
| Gettysburg | $40K | +7% | 130 |
| Reading | $39K | +5% | 1,050 |
| Lancaster | $38K | +3% | 880 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $38K | +2% | 2,320 |
| Lebanon | $37K | +1% | 130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $37K | +1% | 25,460 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $36K | -3% | 2,570 |
| Altoona | $36K | -3% | 230 |
| Pittsburgh | $36K | -3% | 9,250 |
| York-Hanover | $36K | -4% | 830 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $35K | -5% | 2,070 |
| Erie | $35K | -7% | 840 |
| Williamsport | $34K | -7% | 510 |
| State College | $34K | -7% | 280 |
| Johnstown | $31K | -15% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 52.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,803/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for security guards?
Pennsylvania pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $37,050 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,050, and experienced security guards can clear $54,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,556/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 52.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $39,012 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.