Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

33-9032 Security Guards

Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment. Excludes "Transportation Security Screeners" (33-9093).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
1,006,880 1.0 % $12.92 $26,870 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.23 $9.39 $11.50 $14.92 $19.83
Annual Wage (2) $17,130 $19,540 $23,920 $31,030 $41,240

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 578,330 74.15 $12.02 $25,010
Local Government (OES Designation) 37,330 0.67 $15.56 $32,360
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 36,140 0.70 $14.91 $31,010
Elementary and Secondary Schools 31,840 0.37 $14.78 $30,740
Traveler Accommodation 26,850 1.61 $13.61 $28,320

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Investigation and Security Services 578,330 74.15 $12.02 $25,010
Facilities Support Services 11,380 8.47 $12.77 $26,550
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 7,340 7.69 $12.74 $26,510
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 1,270 6.55 $17.96 $37,350
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 19,030 5.52 $11.32 $23,540

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Taxi and Limousine Service (8) (8) $25.15 $52,300
Natural Gas Distribution 170 0.16 $24.80 $51,570
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 3,460 0.88 $22.86 $47,540
Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation 90 0.11 $21.32 $44,350
Wired Telecommunications Carriers 170 0.03 $21.28 $44,270

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 131,780 9.41 1.19 $12.88 $26,790
New York 95,860 11.49 1.45 $13.98 $29,070
Florida 76,670 10.79 1.36 $11.18 $23,260
Texas 75,390 7.47 0.94 $12.00 $24,970
Illinois 46,570 8.42 1.06 $12.35 $25,680




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 12,370 19.34 2.44 $18.21 $37,870
Hawaii 9,890 17.30 2.18 $12.82 $26,660
Nevada 18,810 16.89 2.13 $13.29 $27,640
New York 95,860 11.49 1.45 $13.98 $29,070
Florida 76,670 10.79 1.36 $11.18 $23,260




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 12,370 19.34 2.44 $18.21 $37,870
Washington 14,580 5.41 0.68 $17.88 $37,190
Alaska 2,180 7.07 0.89 $17.05 $35,470
Idaho 1,930 3.24 0.41 $15.19 $31,590
Virginia 31,500 8.93 1.13 $15.04 $31,290

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 75,080 15.07 1.90 $13.76 $28,630
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 51,240 13.42 1.69 $12.48 $25,960
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 38,410 10.85 1.37 $12.20 $25,390
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 30,640 13.39 1.69 $17.77 $36,960
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 22,420 8.97 1.13 $10.57 $21,990
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 20,180 21.05 2.66 $11.40 $23,710
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 18,700 9.34 1.18 $12.44 $25,880
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 17,450 9.67 1.22 $15.10 $31,410
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 17,240 7.84 0.99 $11.30 $23,500
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 16,190 20.06 2.53 $13.02 $27,080




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 20,180 21.05 2.66 $11.40 $23,710
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 16,190 20.06 2.53 $13.02 $27,080
Honolulu, HI 8,290 19.70 2.49 $12.47 $25,930
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 2,630 19.40 2.45 $13.37 $27,800
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 8,880 17.86 2.26 $11.24 $23,380
Las Cruces, NM 1,020 15.62 1.97 $11.76 $24,470
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 9,100 15.53 1.96 $10.81 $22,470
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 75,080 15.07 1.90 $13.76 $28,630
Sumter, SC 490 14.63 1.85 $9.36 $19,460
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS 1,470 14.54 1.84 $12.31 $25,600