Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Vermont is $45,550/year ($21.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.95), that's roughly $45,121 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,498/month, about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Vermont. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Vermont?
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What this looks like in Vermont
Vermont sits well above the national pay line for security guards, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,498/month, which is 47.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.95) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Vermont
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Vermont
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington | $51K | +12% | 410 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Vermont numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vermont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 47.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,498/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Vermont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,162/month. At HUD’s $1,498/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Vermont?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $46K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Vermont compare to the national average for security guards?
Vermont pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Vermont?
The median is $45,550 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,040, and experienced security guards can clear $72,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Vermont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,133/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,498/month, which eats 47.8% 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 Vermont?
Vermont has a Regional Price Parity of 100.95 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security guards salary is worth about $45,121 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.