Best states for a security monitor

Q: What is the best state for security monitors?

The best state to be a security monitor is Massachusetts based on security monitor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for security monitors?

The highest paying state for security monitors is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for security monitors?

The worst state for security monitors is West Virginia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like security monitors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for security monitors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of security monitors in America is $38,000.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for security monitors.We found that Massachusetts is the best state for security monitor jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.

10 best states for security monitors in 2026

1. Massachusetts
Total security monitor jobs: 1,279
Average annual salary: $38,207
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Security monitor jobs in Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
Total security monitor jobs: 1,040
Average annual salary: $33,786
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Security monitor jobs in Minnesota
3. Washington
Total security monitor jobs: 1,029
Average annual salary: $35,212
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1
Security monitor jobs in Washington
4. California
Total security monitor jobs: 4,602
Average annual salary: $35,202
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Security monitor jobs in California
5. Alaska
Total security monitor jobs: 102
Average annual salary: $37,540
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Security monitor jobs in Alaska
6. Nevada
Total security monitor jobs: 306
Average annual salary: $31,231
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Security monitor jobs in Nevada
7. Hawaii
Total security monitor jobs: 141
Average annual salary: $34,491
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Security monitor jobs in Hawaii
8. North Dakota
Total security monitor jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $36,814
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Security monitor jobs in North Dakota
9. New York
Total security monitor jobs: 2,324
Average annual salary: $31,551
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Security monitor jobs in New York
10. Ohio
Total security monitor jobs: 1,424
Average annual salary: $30,696
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Security monitor jobs in Ohio

Security monitor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a security monitor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a security monitor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Massachusetts	$38,207	$30,000	6,859,819	1,279
2	Minnesota	$33,786	$26,000	5,576,606	1,040
3	Washington	$35,212	$27,000	7,405,743	1,029
4	California	$35,202	$26,000	39,536,653	4,602
5	Alaska	$37,540	$31,000	739,795	102
6	Nevada	$31,231	$23,000	2,998,039	306
7	Hawaii	$34,491	$28,000	1,427,538	141
8	North Dakota	$36,814	$29,000	755,393	96
9	New York	$31,551	$24,000	19,849,399	2,324
10	Ohio	$30,696	$23,000	11,658,609	1,424
11	Oregon	$33,647	$26,000	4,142,776	519
12	Rhode Island	$29,692	$23,000	1,059,639	201
13	Nebraska	$30,677	$24,000	1,920,076	284
14	Utah	$30,933	$24,000	3,101,833	405
15	New Hampshire	$30,646	$24,000	1,342,795	238
16	Illinois	$29,854	$23,000	12,802,023	1,880
17	Maine	$31,985	$25,000	1,335,907	140
18	Missouri	$29,544	$23,000	6,113,532	823
19	Vermont	$30,448	$24,000	623,657	97
20	Virginia	$32,121	$24,000	8,470,020	1,017
21	Wisconsin	$29,558	$23,000	5,795,483	679
22	Indiana	$29,652	$23,000	6,666,818	787
23	New Jersey	$29,248	$22,000	9,005,644	1,394
24	Colorado	$30,920	$24,000	5,607,154	632
25	District of Columbia	$33,985	$26,000	693,972	139
26	Pennsylvania	$26,378	$20,000	12,805,537	1,918
27	Arizona	$27,474	$21,000	7,016,270	897
28	Connecticut	$28,988	$22,000	3,588,184	479
29	North Carolina	$28,165	$21,000	10,273,419	1,305
30	Oklahoma	$27,942	$21,000	3,930,864	405
31	Texas	$26,406	$20,000	28,304,596	2,785
32	South Dakota	$28,264	$22,000	869,666	82
33	Maryland	$30,349	$23,000	6,052,177	655
34	Georgia	$25,953	$20,000	10,429,379	1,597
35	Tennessee	$25,831	$20,000	6,715,984	762
36	Wyoming	$27,125	$21,000	579,315	70
37	Delaware	$26,656	$20,000	961,939	183
38	Michigan	$26,824	$20,000	9,962,311	896
39	Montana	$25,544	$20,000	1,050,493	166
40	Arkansas	$26,524	$20,000	3,004,279	272
41	New Mexico	$26,180	$20,000	2,088,070	235
42	Kansas	$26,168	$20,000	2,913,123	329
43	Idaho	$26,329	$20,000	1,716,943	159
44	Alabama	$23,242	$18,000	4,874,747	639
45	Mississippi	$21,124	$16,000	2,984,100	333
46	Florida	$22,231	$17,000	20,984,400	2,388
47	South Carolina	$24,575	$19,000	5,024,369	573
48	Kentucky	$24,417	$19,000	4,454,189	442
49	Iowa	$25,124	$19,000	3,145,711	386
50	Louisiana	$24,138	$18,000	4,684,333	380
51	West Virginia	$22,623	$17,000	1,815,857	156

Highest paying states for security monitors

Rank	State	Avg. Security Monitor Salary
1	Massachusetts	$38,207
2	Minnesota	$33,786
3	Washington	$35,212
4	California	$35,202
5	Alaska	$37,540
6	Nevada	$31,231
7	Hawaii	$34,491
8	North Dakota	$36,814
9	New York	$31,551
10	Ohio	$30,696
11	Oregon	$33,647
12	Rhode Island	$29,692
13	Nebraska	$30,677
14	Utah	$30,933
15	New Hampshire	$30,646
16	Illinois	$29,854
17	Maine	$31,985
18	Missouri	$29,544
19	Vermont	$30,448
20	Virginia	$32,121
21	Wisconsin	$29,558
22	Indiana	$29,652
23	New Jersey	$29,248
24	Colorado	$30,920
25	District of Columbia	$33,985
26	Pennsylvania	$26,378
27	Arizona	$27,474
28	Connecticut	$28,988
29	North Carolina	$28,165
30	Oklahoma	$27,942
31	Texas	$26,406
32	South Dakota	$28,264
33	Maryland	$30,349
34	Georgia	$25,953
35	Tennessee	$25,831
36	Wyoming	$27,125
37	Delaware	$26,656
38	Michigan	$26,824
39	Montana	$25,544
40	Arkansas	$26,524
41	New Mexico	$26,180
42	Kansas	$26,168
43	Idaho	$26,329
44	Alabama	$23,242
45	Mississippi	$21,124
46	Florida	$22,231
47	South Carolina	$24,575
48	Kentucky	$24,417
49	Iowa	$25,124
50	Louisiana	$24,138
51	West Virginia	$22,623

Best states for a security monitor

10 best states for security monitors in 2026

1. Massachusetts

2. Minnesota

3. Washington

4. California

5. Alaska

6. Nevada

7. Hawaii

8. North Dakota

9. New York

10. Ohio

Security monitor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a security monitor

Detailed list of the best states for a security monitor

Highest paying states for security monitors

Security monitor best states FAQs

What is the best state for security monitors?

What is the highest paying state for security monitors?

What is the worst state for security monitors?

Search for security monitor jobs

Total security monitor jobs:	1,279
Average annual salary:	$38,207
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$48,000
Location Quotient:	0.99