Find Trade Colleges
Security Guards in California
Is California a good place for you to work as a Security Guard?
You’re in luck! Jobs for Security Guards in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
-
Projected employment for Security Guards in California is growing faster than average.
-
Security Guards in California earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
How Many Security Guards Work in California?
In 2018, there were 155,540 Security Guards working in the state.
There were 151,110 Security Guards employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 4,430 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 11,470 Security Guards working in it, which means California has more Security Guards than average.
Job Projections for California
Jobs for Security Guards in this state are growing at a rate of 10.3% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 6.3%.
California Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 21,950 annual job openings, and a total of 164,900 jobs for California Security Guards in 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 157,500 annual jobs and 1,193,900 total jobs in 2026.
What do Security Guards Make in California?
In 2018 wages for Security Guards ranged from $23,410 to $47,240 with $29,660 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $11.26 to $22.71. The median hourly rate was $14.26.
In 2017 the median pay for this field was $13.32 an hour.
The hourly rate grew by $0.94.
The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.
Explore Best Ranked Schools for You
Top California Metros for Security Guards
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Security Guards.
| Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 69,830 | $29,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 18,890 | $34,660 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 17,040 | $26,920 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 13,200 | $29,070 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 9,740 | $35,080 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | 8,040 | $27,490 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,350 | $25,810 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 2,090 | $27,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 1,510 | $24,730 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,460 | $27,890 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,220 | $25,190 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,160 | $30,130 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 1,050 | $30,510 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 790 | $27,110 |
| Napa, CA | 750 | $30,030 |
| El Centro, CA | 680 | $24,520 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 540 | $36,230 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 540 | $28,800 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 450 | $28,390 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 430 | $24,570 |
| Redding, CA | 350 | $29,420 |
| Merced, CA | 300 | $27,150 |
| Yuba City, CA | 280 | $24,430 |
| Chico, CA | 270 | $27,550 |
| Madera, CA | 170 | n/a |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 120 | $29,520 |
Top States for Security Guards Employment
The table below shows the states where most Security Guards work.
| State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 155,540 | $29,660 |
| New York | 118,760 | $32,020 |
| Texas | 88,250 | $26,010 |
| Florida | 85,690 | $24,380 |
| Illinois | 47,460 | $29,920 |
| Pennsylvania | 42,900 | $26,760 |
| New Jersey | 39,000 | $29,970 |
| Ohio | 33,040 | $26,200 |
| Virginia | 30,190 | $32,740 |
| Georgia | 29,510 | $26,300 |
| Maryland | 26,930 | $32,420 |
| Michigan | 26,110 | $24,420 |
| North Carolina | 25,890 | $26,720 |
| Tennessee | 23,850 | $23,970 |
| Arizona | 22,790 | $26,320 |
| Nevada | 21,810 | $28,720 |
| Massachusetts | 20,820 | $32,400 |
| Washington | 18,130 | $34,900 |
| Indiana | 17,960 | $24,670 |
| Louisiana | 17,370 | $24,730 |
Below are the states where Security Guards get paid the most:
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $42,240 |
| District of Columbia | $40,810 |
| Washington | $34,900 |
| North Dakota | $33,910 |
| Hawaii | $32,770 |
| Virginia | $32,740 |
| New Hampshire | $32,680 |
| Maryland | $32,420 |
| Massachusetts | $32,400 |
| Missouri | $32,060 |
Related Careers in California
Discover similar careers:
| Occupation | California Employment Total |
|---|---|
| Gaming Surveillance Officers and Gaming Investigators | 980 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.