Salaries › Security Guard › California
Security Guard Salary in California (2026)
$20.79 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,051/year ($3,004/month) for a single filer
Security Guard pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,010 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,240 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $57,880 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 199,480 Security Guard jobs in California (occupation code 33-9032, “Security Guards”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Security Guard salary of $43,240 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,051 — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
| Gross (median) | $43,240 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,009 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,308 |
| California state income tax | −$872 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,051 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,004 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Security Guard make in California?
- The median Security Guard salary in California is $43,240 per year ($20.79 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,180 and $46,760.
- What is the take-home pay for a Security Guard in California?
- On the median salary of $43,240, a single filer in California takes home about $36,051 per year ($3,004 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
- How many Security Guard jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 199,480 Security Guard jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Security Guards
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.