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These Are The 10 Best Cities For Security Officers

By Chris Kolmar
Dec. 14, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 16, 2026

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Top 10 Cities for Security Officers in 2026

As you explore career opportunities in the security sector, understanding the best locations for security officer positions can significantly impact your long-term prospects. In 2026, the demand for security officers remains strong, with varying salaries and opportunities depending on the region. This guide will help you identify the cities where security officers not only earn competitive wages but also benefit from a favorable cost of living and abundant job openings.

Our research team at Zippia analyzed data to determine the best U.S. cities for security officers. The following list highlights areas where security professionals can thrive financially and career-wise.

Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we compiled a ranking of cities based on job availability, average salaries, and cost of living metrics. Here are the top cities for security officers in 2026:

  1. Charleston, WV
  2. Tacoma, WA
  3. Seattle, WA
  4. Trenton, NJ
  5. Omaha, NE
  6. Kennewick, WA
  7. Anchorage, AK
  8. Augusta, GA
  9. Silver Spring, MD
  10. Cleveland, OH

Charleston stands out as the leading city for security officers, offering the best combination of salary and job availability.

If you’re considering a career in security, you might want to steer clear of cities like Punta Gorda, which do not offer favorable conditions for security officers.

Continue reading to see how we conducted our research and to learn more about the top ten cities for security officers.

Methodology for Ranking the Best Cities for Security Officers

At Zippia, our research team interacts with job seekers from diverse backgrounds. Through our findings, we identified two primary factors people prioritize when searching for jobs:

  • Job availability
  • Salary

To identify the best cities for security officers, we analyzed data on job availability and salary levels from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics:

  • Location quotient: Represents the concentration of security officer jobs in a city.
  • Average annual salary for security officers.
  • Average entry-level salary for security officers.

To ensure fair comparisons, we adjusted salary figures based on the cost of living in each state.

This analysis included 394 metropolitan areas across the country, with the primary area designated as the “city” for our study. For example, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.

Each city was ranked based on the criteria, and we calculated an overall Job Score, where a lower score indicates a better ranking for security officers.

Now, let’s delve into the specifics of what makes each city an attractive choice for security officers.

1. Charleston, WV

Total Jobs: 1,590
Average Annual Salary: $27,620
Average Entry Level Salary: $17,890
Location Quotient: 1.73

2. Tacoma, WA

Total Jobs: 2,570
Average Annual Salary: $32,160
Average Entry Level Salary: $21,440
Location Quotient: 1.16

3. Seattle, WA

Total Jobs: 11,580
Average Annual Salary: $35,340
Average Entry Level Salary: $21,910
Location Quotient: 0.95

4. Trenton, NJ

Total Jobs: 2,770
Average Annual Salary: $39,060
Average Entry Level Salary: $21,310
Location Quotient: 1.56

5. Omaha, NE

Total Jobs: 3,570
Average Annual Salary: $30,480
Average Entry Level Salary: $20,040
Location Quotient: 0.95

6. Kennewick, WA

Total Jobs: 650
Average Annual Salary: $39,040
Average Entry Level Salary: $22,010
Location Quotient: 0.79

7. Anchorage, AK

Total Jobs: 1,200
Average Annual Salary: $34,820
Average Entry Level Salary: $24,150
Location Quotient: 0.85

8. Augusta, GA

Source:

Total Jobs: 2,400
Average Annual Salary: $34,380
Average Entry Level Salary: $17,940
Location Quotient: 1.41

9. Silver Spring, MD

Source:

Total Jobs: 5,000
Average Annual Salary: $39,990
Average Entry Level Salary: $22,540
Location Quotient: 1.09

10. Cleveland, OH

Total Jobs: 9,090
Average Annual Salary: $28,590
Average Entry Level Salary: $17,910
Location Quotient: 1.12

Conclusion: Top Cities for Security Officers

If you’re beginning your career as a security officer, these cities should be your top contenders. They offer competitive salaries, ample job openings, and opportunities for advancement.

Conversely, if you’re seeking areas with less favorable conditions for security officers, consider avoiding:

  1. Punta Gorda, FL
  2. Wausau, WI
  3. Glens Falls, NY

Comprehensive Overview of the Best Cities for Security Officers

Rank State Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Charleston, WV $27,620 $17,890 1,590
2 Tacoma, WA $32,160 $21,440 2,570
3 Seattle, WA $35,340 $21,910 11,580
4 Trenton, NJ $39,060 $21,310 2,770
5 Omaha, NE $30,480 $20,040 3,570
6 Kennewick, WA $39,040 $22,010 650
7 Anchorage, AK $34,820 $24,150 1,200
8 Augusta, GA $34,380 $17,940 2,400
9 Silver Spring, MD $39,990 $22,540 5,000
10 Cleveland, OH $28,590 $17,910 9,090
11 Haverhill, MA $44,940 $25,460 380
12 Pueblo, CO $35,100 $23,500 370
13 Lafayette, IN $35,100 $18,920 580
14 Fairbanks, AK $41,330 $32,090 200
15 Casper, WY $29,130 $22,650 290
16 Baton Rouge, LA $27,260 $19,760 4,110
17 Austin, TX $30,860 $20,400 5,860
18 Kansas City, MO $28,110 $18,950 7,220
19 Tulsa, OK $27,580 $19,720 3,250
20 San Francisco, CA $34,130 $22,070 10,930
21 Lawton, OK $27,410 $19,150 380
22 Myrtle Beach, SC $26,360 $18,200 1,770
23 Toledo, OH $28,590 $17,920 2,110
24 Rocky Mount, NC $37,430 $23,160 260
25 Cheyenne, WY $34,240 $22,170 220
26 Anniston, AL $31,930 $17,420 300
27 Chicago, IL $31,020 $19,790 40,330
28 Charleston, SC $29,700 $18,800 2,000
29 Decatur, AL $35,810 $17,420 340
30 Spokane, WA $29,690 $21,020 1,590
31 Savannah, GA $27,210 $18,590 1,650
32 Bremerton, WA $46,120 $24,360 320
33 Bismarck, ND $32,210 $22,810 310
34 Salt Lake City, UT $29,170 $19,530 3,940
35 Youngstown, OH $29,580 $17,430 1,460
36 Fort Wayne, IN $33,230 $18,580 1,080
37 Gary, IN $27,850 $17,110 3,140
38 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY $25,640 $16,800 4,470
39 Hilton Head Island, SC $25,460 $18,890 630
40 Little Rock, AR $26,280 $16,880 2,960
41 Springfield, IL $41,490 $21,910 420
42 Niles, MI $25,960 $18,860 940
43 Detroit, MI $27,280 $19,410 5,720
44 Santa Fe, NM $25,530 $20,350 530
45 New Orleans, LA $28,900 $17,030 8,260
46 Minneapolis, MN $34,910 $21,770 8,370
47 Dubuque, IA $33,260 $20,580 250
48 St. Louis, MO $27,310 $18,030 8,840
49 California, MD $47,210 $25,070 160
50 Grants Pass, OR $32,650 $22,390 100
51 Las Cruces, NM $28,830 $17,560 680
52 Burlington, NC $43,180 $21,240 200
53 Kankakee, IL $28,230 $20,220 470
54 Akron, OH $34,200 $17,920 1,470
55 Nashville, TN $28,350 $17,280 7,270
56 Gulfport, MS $25,740 $17,370 1,620
57 Harrisburg, PA $28,160 $19,110 2,760
58 Oklahoma City, OK $29,840 $17,140 4,090
59 Houston, TX $27,520 $18,000 27,180
60 Jefferson City, MO $31,050 $16,950 470
61 San Jose, CA $32,730 $21,610 8,880
62 Dutchess County, NY $36,210 $23,780 690
63 Cincinnati, OH $26,760 $18,230 5,940
64 Yakima, WA $31,350 $21,080 380
65 Dallas, TX $27,540 $17,600 23,430
66 Phoenix, AZ $28,820 $19,030 18,310
67 Portland, OR $31,590 $20,010 6,060
68 Killeen, TX $33,840 $19,170 500
69 Columbus, OH $25,870 $18,220 6,350
70 Dayton, OH $28,020 $17,600 1,950
71 Monroe, MI $27,860 $18,360 290
72 Beaumont, TX $27,700 $18,980 950
73 Morgantown, WV $26,240 $17,280 380
74 Greenville, SC $27,660 $17,470 2,530
75 Chambersburg, PA $33,000 $25,150 150
76 San Rafael, CA $33,400 $25,570 480
77 Lake Charles, LA $25,230 $18,370 990
78 St. Joseph, MO $28,670 $17,010 330
79 Fayetteville, NC $33,610 $17,580 840
80 Corpus Christi, TX $26,560 $18,490 1,340
81 Pine Bluff, AR $25,860 $16,700 210
82 Albuquerque, NM $26,500 $17,830 3,280
83 Waterloo, IA $29,690 $19,410 370
84 Lima, OH $30,190 $18,640 150
85 Elizabethtown, KY $32,140 $21,860 80
86 Providence, RI $28,500 $20,640 3,940
87 Chattanooga, TN $28,190 $16,860 1,570
88 Springfield, MO $28,010 $16,920 1,170
89 Walla Walla, WA $36,950 $22,510 40
90 Denver, CO $28,690 $20,480 10,340
91 Hot Springs, AR $26,430 $17,110 180
92 Canton, OH $29,300 $18,000 550
93 Weirton, WV $23,960 $17,750 270
94 Midland, TX $29,830 $20,200 270
95 East Stroudsburg, PA $26,020 $19,330 430
96 Lexington, KY $22,650 $16,330 2,420
97 Columbia, SC $25,310 $16,710 3,800
98 Boise City, ID $26,580 $17,840 1,320
99 Evansville, IN $28,720 $16,880 880
100 Cape Girardeau, MO $27,930 $19,560 120
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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