Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Wisconsin is $37,440/year ($18/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 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $39,690 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 47.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Wisconsin?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Security guards pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 46.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $45K | +21% | 260 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $41K | +9% | 170 |
| Green Bay | $40K | +7% | 640 |
| Sheboygan | $40K | +7% | 70 |
| Madison | $38K | +2% | 1,260 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $38K | +1% | 5,210 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $36K | -3% | 570 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $36K | -3% | 350 |
| Eau Claire | $36K | -3% | 160 |
| Appleton | $36K | -4% | 540 |
| Fond du Lac | $35K | -6% | 70 |
| Kenosha | $35K | -6% | 420 |
| Wausau | $34K | -8% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 46.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,825/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for security guards?
Wisconsin pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Wisconsin?
The median is $37,440 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,410, and experienced security guards can clear $54,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,596/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 46.3% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $39,690 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.