Security Guards Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
The median pay for a security guards in Pittsburgh, PA is $36,210/year ($17.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $38,249 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month — about 51.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About security guards
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $63K | +65% | 16,160 |
| Alaska | $49K | +27% | 2,050 |
| Washington | $48K | +25% | 24,820 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +20% | 14,030 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +17% | 24,100 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +16% | 2,630 |
| California | $44K | +14% | 185,510 |
| Oregon | $44K | +14% | 11,550 |
| Virginia | $43K | +13% | 33,440 |
| Vermont | $43K | +12% | 830 |
| New York | $43K | +11% | 132,140 |
| Utah | $42K | +11% | 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $42K | +9% | 9,790 |
| Maine | $41K | +8% | 1,760 |
| Missouri | $41K | +6% | 19,180 |
| Idaho | $41K | +6% | 2,710 |
| Connecticut | $40K | +4% | 12,040 |
| North Dakota | $40K | +4% | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | +2% | 11,670 |
| Nebraska | $39K | +1% | 4,440 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +1% | 3,190 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +1% | 37,970 |
| New Mexico | $39K | +1% | 8,240 |
| Illinois | $39K | +1% | 53,560 |
| Maryland | $39K | +1% | 27,220 |
| Arizona | $39K | +0% | 26,720 |
| Nevada | $38K | -0% | 25,610 |
| Montana | $38K | -0% | 1,440 |
| Michigan | $38K | -1% | 25,760 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 3,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -2% | 43,710 |
| Indiana | $38K | -2% | 17,900 |
| Iowa | $37K | -3% | 6,450 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -3% | 6,290 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -3% | 6,680 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -4% | 1,420 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -5% | 12,320 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -5% | 1,020 |
| Ohio | $36K | -6% | 34,590 |
| Kansas | $36K | -6% | 6,790 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -6% | 28,260 |
| Florida | $36K | -6% | 95,350 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -6% | 29,360 |
| Georgia | $36K | -7% | 35,410 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -7% | 13,500 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -9% | 16,180 |
| Texas | $33K | -13% | 99,370 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -17% | 15,780 |
| Alabama | $31K | -19% | 15,050 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -23% | 9,600 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pittsburgh numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
How much do security guards make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $36,210 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,230, and experienced security guards can clear $47,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,502/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 51.9% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $38,249 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.