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Best states for an unarmed security guard
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like unarmed security guards are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for unarmed security guards aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for unarmed security guards in America. The best city in America for unarmed security guards with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
We figured that the best places for unarmed security guard jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as an unarmed security guard, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for unarmed security guards in 2026
1. Alaska
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $48,161 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
2. Minnesota
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 913 Average annual salary: $42,300 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
3. Washington
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 769 Average annual salary: $40,351 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
4. Rhode Island
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $36,744 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. Nevada
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $37,536 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Connecticut
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $39,208 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
7. New York
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 1,822 Average annual salary: $37,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
8. California
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 2,873 Average annual salary: $40,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
9. Oregon
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 390 Average annual salary: $38,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. North Dakota
Total unarmed security guard jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $41,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Unarmed security guard jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an unarmed security guard
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an unarmed security guard
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $48,161 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 112 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $42,300 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 913 |
| 3 | Washington | $40,351 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 769 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $36,744 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 149 |
| 5 | Nevada | $37,536 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 246 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $39,208 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 348 |
| 7 | New York | $37,048 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,822 |
| 8 | California | $40,734 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,873 |
| 9 | Oregon | $38,621 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 390 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $41,852 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 76 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $34,937 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 224 |
| 12 | Arizona | $33,471 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 724 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $34,360 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 52 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $31,544 | $23,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,582 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $34,786 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 870 |
| 16 | Vermont | $34,470 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 64 |
| 17 | Utah | $35,227 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 228 |
| 18 | Michigan | $33,242 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 676 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $34,812 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 89 |
| 20 | Illinois | $30,554 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,670 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $31,858 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,084 |
| 22 | Missouri | $30,493 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 641 |
| 23 | Colorado | $34,397 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 409 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $37,507 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 68 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $30,921 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 537 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $32,583 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 70 |
| 27 | Kansas | $31,613 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 249 |
| 28 | Maine | $31,963 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 106 |
| 29 | Ohio | $28,150 | $21,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,139 |
| 30 | Montana | $29,945 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 111 |
| 31 | Virginia | $33,074 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 525 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $29,533 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 177 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $28,016 | $21,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,183 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $29,917 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 180 |
| 35 | Indiana | $28,220 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 654 |
| 36 | Idaho | $30,776 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 128 |
| 37 | Maryland | $31,939 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 370 |
| 38 | Delaware | $26,699 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 153 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $27,169 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 345 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $26,864 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 536 |
| 41 | Georgia | $26,985 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,107 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,652 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 282 |
| 43 | Texas | $26,730 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,947 |
| 44 | Iowa | $26,551 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 332 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $22,642 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 303 |
| 46 | Alabama | $23,186 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 542 |
| 47 | Florida | $24,859 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,523 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $26,017 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 215 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $24,971 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,059 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 289 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $24,488 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 372 |
Highest paying states for unarmed security guards
| Rank | State | Avg. Unarmed Security Guard Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $48,161 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $42,300 |
| 3 | Washington | $40,351 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $36,744 |
| 5 | Nevada | $37,536 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $39,208 |
| 7 | New York | $37,048 |
| 8 | California | $40,734 |
| 9 | Oregon | $38,621 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $41,852 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $34,937 |
| 12 | Arizona | $33,471 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $34,360 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $31,544 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $34,786 |
| 16 | Vermont | $34,470 |
| 17 | Utah | $35,227 |
| 18 | Michigan | $33,242 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $34,812 |
| 20 | Illinois | $30,554 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $31,858 |
| 22 | Missouri | $30,493 |
| 23 | Colorado | $34,397 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $37,507 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $30,921 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $32,583 |
| 27 | Kansas | $31,613 |
| 28 | Maine | $31,963 |
| 29 | Ohio | $28,150 |
| 30 | Montana | $29,945 |
| 31 | Virginia | $33,074 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $29,533 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $28,016 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $29,917 |
| 35 | Indiana | $28,220 |
| 36 | Idaho | $30,776 |
| 37 | Maryland | $31,939 |
| 38 | Delaware | $26,699 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $27,169 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $26,864 |
| 41 | Georgia | $26,985 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,652 |
| 43 | Texas | $26,730 |
| 44 | Iowa | $26,551 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $22,642 |
| 46 | Alabama | $23,186 |
| 47 | Florida | $24,859 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $26,017 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $24,971 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $24,059 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $24,488 |
Unarmed security guard best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025