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Best states for a security officer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and protective service careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to security officer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for security officers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for security officer jobs.
The median salary for security officers in Washington is $40,097. Compare that to the median salary in Louisiana of $23,193, which ranked worst for security officers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Washington is the best state for security officer jobs, whereas Louisiana is the worst.
10 best states for security officers in 2025
1. Washington
Total security officer jobs: 1,408 Average annual salary: $40,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
2. Minnesota
Total security officer jobs: 1,405 Average annual salary: $37,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. Alaska
Total security officer jobs: 173 Average annual salary: $36,230 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
4. New York
Total security officer jobs: 3,013 Average annual salary: $35,759 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
5. Massachusetts
Total security officer jobs: 1,824 Average annual salary: $35,893 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. North Dakota
Total security officer jobs: 172 Average annual salary: $35,041 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Oregon
Total security officer jobs: 772 Average annual salary: $34,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1
8. Nevada
Total security officer jobs: 470 Average annual salary: $31,672 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
9. Rhode Island
Total security officer jobs: 307 Average annual salary: $31,463 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
10. Hawaii
Total security officer jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $38,406 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
Security officer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a security officer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a security officer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,097 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,408 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $37,107 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,405 |
| 3 | Alaska | $36,230 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 173 |
| 4 | New York | $35,759 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,013 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,893 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,824 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $35,041 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 172 |
| 7 | Oregon | $34,497 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 772 |
| 8 | Nevada | $31,672 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 470 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $31,463 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 307 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $38,406 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 155 |
| 11 | California | $34,766 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,264 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $33,099 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 323 |
| 13 | Maine | $32,892 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 231 |
| 14 | Vermont | $32,092 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 145 |
| 15 | Colorado | $33,430 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,016 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $33,199 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 77 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $30,358 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,243 |
| 18 | Idaho | $30,276 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 410 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $31,781 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 165 |
| 20 | Utah | $32,522 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 442 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $38,751 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 232 |
| 22 | Missouri | $31,759 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 990 |
| 23 | Virginia | $31,270 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,841 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $31,058 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,702 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $32,047 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 616 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $30,961 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 378 |
| 27 | Arizona | $30,045 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,284 |
| 28 | Illinois | $31,145 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,249 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $30,895 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 830 |
| 30 | Maryland | $31,193 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,144 |
| 31 | Montana | $30,351 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 192 |
| 32 | Ohio | $28,421 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,763 |
| 33 | Iowa | $29,527 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 575 |
| 34 | Michigan | $29,068 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,192 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $27,476 | $21,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,712 |
| 36 | Kansas | $29,135 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 423 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $28,159 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 502 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $26,230 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 366 |
| 39 | Texas | $26,915 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,575 |
| 40 | Indiana | $27,570 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 971 |
| 41 | Florida | $24,128 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,156 |
| 42 | Georgia | $24,762 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,945 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $22,344 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 477 |
| 44 | Delaware | $27,830 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 198 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $25,099 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 980 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $25,649 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 542 |
| 47 | Alabama | $23,772 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 782 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $25,493 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 722 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $24,527 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 385 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $23,935 | $18,000 | 1,815,857 | 234 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $23,193 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 508 |
Highest paying states for security officers
| Rank | State | Avg. Security Officer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $40,097 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $37,107 |
| 3 | Alaska | $36,230 |
| 4 | New York | $35,759 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,893 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $35,041 |
| 7 | Oregon | $34,497 |
| 8 | Nevada | $31,672 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $31,463 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $38,406 |
| 11 | California | $34,766 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $33,099 |
| 13 | Maine | $32,892 |
| 14 | Vermont | $32,092 |
| 15 | Colorado | $33,430 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $33,199 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $30,358 |
| 18 | Idaho | $30,276 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $31,781 |
| 20 | Utah | $32,522 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $38,751 |
| 22 | Missouri | $31,759 |
| 23 | Virginia | $31,270 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $31,058 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $32,047 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $30,961 |
| 27 | Arizona | $30,045 |
| 28 | Illinois | $31,145 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $30,895 |
| 30 | Maryland | $31,193 |
| 31 | Montana | $30,351 |
| 32 | Ohio | $28,421 |
| 33 | Iowa | $29,527 |
| 34 | Michigan | $29,068 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $27,476 |
| 36 | Kansas | $29,135 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $28,159 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $26,230 |
| 39 | Texas | $26,915 |
| 40 | Indiana | $27,570 |
| 41 | Florida | $24,128 |
| 42 | Georgia | $24,762 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $22,344 |
| 44 | Delaware | $27,830 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $25,099 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $25,649 |
| 47 | Alabama | $23,772 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $25,493 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $24,527 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $23,935 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $23,193 |
Security officer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025