Research Summary. In 2026, the Zippia data science team conducted extensive research to provide insights on security officer salaries across the United States, broken down by state:
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Washington offers the highest security officer salary at $40,097
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Mississippi has the lowest security officer salary at $22,344
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The national average salary for security officers is $31,101
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Security officers earn a national hourly wage of $14.95
Discover more about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a top priority for job seekers across various demographics. For many, understanding how much security officers earn in their region is crucial. While individual salaries may vary based on factors like experience and location, the average salary data provides a meaningful benchmark for what you can expect as a security officer.
Currently, Washington stands out as the state with the highest salary offerings for security officers.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for security officer salaries in 2026:
Let’s delve into the full ranking of all the states and how they compare.
Highest-Paid Security Officers By State
| Rank | State | Average Security Officer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,097 | $32,000 | $49,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $38,406 | $32,000 | $46,000 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $37,107 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| 4 | Alaska | $36,230 | $31,000 | $41,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,893 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 6 | New York | $35,759 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $35,041 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 8 | California | $34,766 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 9 | Oregon | $34,497 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 10 | Colorado | $33,430 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $33,199 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $33,099 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 13 | Maine | $32,892 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 14 | Utah | $32,522 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $32,092 | $26,000 | $39,000 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $32,047 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $31,781 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 18 | Missouri | $31,759 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 19 | Nevada | $31,672 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,463 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 21 | Virginia | $31,270 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 22 | Maryland | $31,193 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $31,145 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $31,058 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $30,961 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $30,895 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $30,358 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 28 | Montana | $30,351 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $30,276 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 30 | Arizona | $30,045 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $29,527 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 32 | Kansas | $29,135 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $29,068 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 34 | Ohio | $28,421 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $28,159 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 36 | Delaware | $27,830 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $27,570 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $27,476 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $26,915 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $26,230 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $25,649 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $25,493 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $25,099 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 44 | Georgia | $24,762 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $24,527 | $19,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Florida | $24,128 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $23,935 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $23,772 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $23,193 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,344 | $17,000 | $28,000 |
Methodology: Security Officer Salary By State
To analyze security officer salaries by state, Zippia aggregates data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented with actual salaries from job listings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to generate a comprehensive overview of security officer salaries by state.
The average annual salary data for security officers is compiled from these estimates and ranked accordingly, with the top-paying state being identified as having the highest average salary.
Security Officer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for security officers?
The highest-paid state for security officers is Washington, with an average salary of $40,097 per year.
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What city pays security officers the most?
Seattle, WA, offers the highest average salary for security officers at $40,250 per year.
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What is the worst state for security officers?
The state with the lowest salary for security officers is Mississippi, where the average salary is $22,344 per year.
Author
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.
