Best cities for a security guard
The best cities for security guards are Kansas City, MO, Urban Honolulu, HI, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for security guards vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for security guards in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a security guard or considering a move, this list of the best cities for security guards to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for security guards. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a security guard. While the absolute best city for security guards is Kansas City, MO, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for security guards in 2024.
If you're looking for a security guard job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for security guards in 2025
1. Kansas City, MO
Security guard jobs in Kansas CityTotal security guard jobs: 123 Average annual salary: $32,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.67 2. Urban Honolulu, HI
Security guard jobs in Urban HonoluluTotal security guard jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $42,937 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 2.25 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Security guard jobs in North Las VegasTotal security guard jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $31,958 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.11 4. Reno, NV
Security guard jobs in RenoTotal security guard jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $33,140 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 2.02 5. Minneapolis, MN
Security guard jobs in MinneapolisTotal security guard jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $36,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.27 6. Portland, OR
Security guard jobs in PortlandTotal security guard jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $36,525 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.23 7. Aurora, CO
Security guard jobs in AuroraTotal security guard jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $34,046 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.68 8. Las Vegas, NV
Security guard jobs in Las VegasTotal security guard jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $32,012 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.06 9. Henderson, NV
Security guard jobs in HendersonTotal security guard jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $31,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.16 10. Toledo, OH
Security guard jobs in ToledoTotal security guard jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $29,665 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 1.14
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Best cities for security guards
- Kansas City, MO
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- Minneapolis, MN
- Portland, OR
- Aurora, CO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Toledo, OH
Detailed list of the best cities for a security guard
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $32,363 | $25,000 | 481,420 | 123 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,937 | $34,000 | 351,792 | 61 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $31,958 | $24,000 | 238,702 | 5 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $33,140 | $26,000 | 245,255 | 33 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,935 | $29,000 | 413,651 | 104 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $36,525 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 91 |
| 7 | Aurora, CO | $34,046 | $27,000 | 361,710 | 51 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,012 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 54 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $31,894 | $24,000 | 292,969 | 7 |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $29,665 | $23,000 | 278,508 | 11 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $29,785 | $23,000 | 385,809 | 32 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $34,082 | $27,000 | 693,060 | 199 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $30,672 | $23,000 | 245,895 | 13 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,125 | $24,000 | 595,047 | 39 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $28,791 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 68 |
| 16 | Tulsa, OK | $29,090 | $23,000 | 403,090 | 29 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $30,488 | $23,000 | 484,587 | 20 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $36,933 | $29,000 | 302,398 | 26 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,645 | $23,000 | 1,615,017 | 204 |
| 20 | Gilbert, AZ | $30,483 | $23,000 | 237,133 | 10 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $37,233 | $28,000 | 307,072 | 10 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $28,087 | $22,000 | 298,800 | 56 |
| 23 | Omaha, NE | $30,974 | $24,000 | 446,970 | 35 |
| 24 | Anchorage, AK | $36,216 | $30,000 | 298,192 | 7 |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,996 | $22,000 | 559,277 | 70 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $36,854 | $28,000 | 522,053 | 21 |
| 27 | Boston, MA | $36,243 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 87 |
| 28 | Memphis, TN | $27,343 | $21,000 | 652,717 | 76 |
| 29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,984 | $22,000 | 638,367 | 50 |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $28,768 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 63 |
| 31 | Tucson, AZ | $30,149 | $23,000 | 530,706 | 41 |
| 32 | Chula Vista, CA | $35,197 | $27,000 | 267,172 | 7 |
| 33 | Riverside, CA | $35,629 | $27,000 | 324,722 | 27 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,644 | $23,000 | 855,164 | 50 |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,214 | $22,000 | 303,625 | 54 |
| 36 | Lincoln, NE | $30,796 | $24,000 | 280,364 | 14 |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $41,685 | $33,000 | 704,352 | 83 |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,919 | $23,000 | 1,567,872 | 56 |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $36,504 | $28,000 | 376,380 | 12 |
| 40 | Saint Louis, MO | $31,981 | $25,000 | 311,404 | 34 |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $31,032 | $24,000 | 252,551 | 17 |
| 42 | Oakland, CA | $37,552 | $29,000 | 420,005 | 14 |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $30,590 | $23,000 | 246,645 | 16 |
| 44 | New York, NY | $35,309 | $27,000 | 8,537,673 | 140 |
| 45 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,054 | $27,000 | 3,976,322 | 191 |
| 46 | Chandler, AZ | $30,512 | $23,000 | 247,477 | 15 |
| 47 | Wichita, KS | $29,921 | $23,000 | 389,902 | 7 |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $32,325 | $25,000 | 281,764 | 36 |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $32,787 | $25,000 | 237,940 | 6 |
| 50 | Greensboro, NC | $29,089 | $22,000 | 287,027 | 13 |
Highest paying cities for security guards
| Rank | City | Avg. security guard salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakewood, WA | $41,745 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $37,614 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,935 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $36,525 |
| 5 | Lexington, MA | $36,249 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $35,309 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $34,220 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,419 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $33,411 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $33,140 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $32,421 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $32,363 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $30,672 |
| 14 | Kansas City, KS | $30,446 |
| 15 | Reading, PA | $29,954 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $29,785 |
| 17 | Columbus, IN | $29,251 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,996 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,984 |
| 20 | Grand Rapids, MI | $28,830 |
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Updated January 8, 2025