Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Twin Falls, ID is $32,040/year ($15.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.11), which stretches that salary to about $34,784 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,186/month, about 54.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $32K get you in Twin Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Twin Falls’s Regional Price Parity (92.11). 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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What this looks like in Twin Falls
Pay for security guards in Twin Falls runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,186/month, which is 52.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.11 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for security guardss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for security guards in metros near Twin Falls, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $37K | $38K |
| Idaho Falls | $79K | $83K |
| Coeur d'Alene | $39K | $40K |
| Pocatello | $38K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Twin Falls, ID
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Security Guards salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64K | +69% | 15,880 |
| Alaska | $47K | +25% | 2,100 |
| Washington | $47K | +24% | 25,800 |
| Vermont | $46K | +20% | 930 |
| Oregon | $46K | +20% | 12,200 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +19% | 2,450 |
| Colorado | $45K | +19% | 16,890 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +17% | 23,930 |
| New York | $44K | +16% | 134,700 |
| Virginia | $44K | +15% | 34,870 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +14% | 14,440 |
| New Mexico | $43K | +14% | 8,410 |
| California | $43K | +14% | 199,480 |
| Hawaii | $43K | +13% | 10,160 |
| Utah | $43K | +12% | 7,310 |
| Missouri | $40K | +6% | 18,630 |
| Connecticut | $40K | +5% | 12,100 |
| Nebraska | $40K | +5% | 4,700 |
| Illinois | $39K | +4% | 53,830 |
| North Dakota | $39K | +3% | 1,310 |
| Wyoming | $39K | +3% | 1,130 |
| Maine | $39K | +3% | 1,930 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +2% | 41,540 |
| Montana | $38K | +1% | 1,610 |
| Idaho | $38K | +1% | 3,750 |
| Arizona | $38K | +1% | 29,820 |
| Maryland | $38K | +1% | 27,670 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -2% | 12,030 |
| Nevada | $37K | -2% | 26,680 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -2% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $37K | -2% | 25,240 |
| Kansas | $37K | -2% | 7,150 |
| Iowa | $37K | -2% | 6,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -3% | 43,610 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | -3% | 3,160 |
| Indiana | $36K | -4% | 19,930 |
| Delaware | $36K | -4% | 3,430 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -5% | 12,210 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -5% | 27,690 |
| Texas | $36K | -5% | 106,210 |
| Florida | $36K | -6% | 95,370 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -6% | 6,390 |
| Ohio | $36K | -6% | 34,450 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -7% | 16,610 |
| Kentucky | $35K | -7% | 13,580 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -8% | 29,830 |
| Georgia | $35K | -8% | 36,210 |
| Alabama | $34K | -11% | 15,210 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -15% | 17,210 |
| Mississippi | $29K | -23% | 10,160 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -24% | 5,200 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Twin Falls numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Twin Falls?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 52.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,186/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 Twin Falls?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,922/month. At HUD’s $1,186/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 Twin Falls?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $32K here vs. $38K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Twin Falls compare to the national average for security guards?
Twin Falls pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do security guards make in Twin Falls, ID?
The median is $32,040 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,030, and experienced security guards can clear $48,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Twin Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,249/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,186/month, which eats 52.7% 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 Twin Falls?
Twin Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 92.11 (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 $34,784 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.