Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Texas is $35,980/year ($17.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $39,327 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 54.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Texas?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Texas
Security guards pay in Texas 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 $1,415/month, which is 54.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Texas
26 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | $38K | +7% | 230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $38K | +5% | 8,410 |
| Midland | $38K | +4% | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $37K | +2% | 34,000 |
| Tyler | $36K | +1% | 530 |
| Abilene | $36K | +0% | 220 |
| Amarillo | $36K | -1% | 590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $35K | -1% | 29,250 |
| Killeen-Temple | $35K | -2% | 730 |
| Waco | $35K | -2% | 650 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $35K | -2% | 11,420 |
| Lubbock | $35K | -2% | 850 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $35K | -3% | 1,100 |
| Wichita Falls | $35K | -3% | 220 |
| Texarkana | $34K | -5% | 150 |
| College Station-Bryan | $34K | -5% | 490 |
| Corpus Christi | $34K | -6% | 1,210 |
| Sherman-Denison | $34K | -6% | 150 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $34K | -6% | 1,100 |
| San Angelo | $34K | -6% | 120 |
| Victoria | $33K | -8% | 130 |
| Longview | $32K | -12% | 550 |
| Eagle Pass | $30K | -17% | 140 |
| El Paso | $30K | -17% | 3,700 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $29K | -19% | 4,100 |
| Laredo | $29K | -19% | 900 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 54.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,617/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 88% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for security guards?
Texas pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Texas?
The median is $35,980 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,950, and experienced security guards can clear $50,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,579/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 54.9% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $39,327 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.