Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

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)
1,032,940 0.9 % $13.00 $27,040 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.30 $9.42 $11.49 $14.97 $20.13
Annual Wage (2) $17,260 $19,600 $23,900 $31,150 $41,860

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 592,550 74.68 $12.09 $25,140
Local Government (OES Designation) 37,460 0.68 $15.88 $33,030
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 36,000 0.69 $15.09 $31,380
Elementary and Secondary Schools 29,740 0.35 $15.11 $31,420
Traveler Accommodation 27,100 1.59 $13.71 $28,520

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 592,550 74.68 $12.09 $25,140
Facilities Support Services 13,350 9.78 $12.89 $26,820
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 6,700 6.96 $13.15 $27,360
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 1,290 6.48 $18.48 $38,430
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 19,750 5.69 $11.61 $24,140

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (8) (8) $27.99 $58,210
Taxi and Limousine Service (8) (8) $24.56 $51,090
Natural Gas Distribution 210 0.19 $23.13 $48,110
Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 1,110 0.44 $21.90 $45,550
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 4,180 1.06 $21.84 $45,420

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 134,130 9.55 1.19 $13.36 $27,780
New York 97,050 11.52 1.43 $14.02 $29,150
Texas 79,820 7.75 0.96 $11.81 $24,560
Florida 77,970 10.90 1.35 $11.20 $23,310
Illinois 50,820 9.12 1.13 $12.23 $25,440




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 11,940 18.52 2.30 $18.19 $37,830
Nevada 19,370 17.41 2.16 $13.41 $27,880
Hawaii 9,430 16.35 2.03 $12.43 $25,850
New York 97,050 11.52 1.43 $14.02 $29,150
Florida 77,970 10.90 1.35 $11.20 $23,310




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 11,940 18.52 2.30 $18.19 $37,830
Alaska 2,230 7.14 0.89 $17.13 $35,640
Washington 15,230 5.60 0.70 $16.85 $35,050
Maryland 26,730 10.77 1.34 $15.37 $31,970
Virginia 31,040 8.73 1.08 $15.31 $31,840





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 74,690 14.76 1.83 $14.01 $29,150
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 53,360 13.96 1.73 $13.10 $27,240
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 41,510 11.59 1.44 $12.12 $25,220
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 29,980 12.98 1.61 $18.21 $37,870
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 23,580 9.24 1.15 $10.52 $21,880
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 21,130 9.48 1.18 $11.44 $23,800
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 19,470 19.91 2.47 $11.47 $23,860
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 19,120 9.35 1.16 $12.77 $26,570
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV 16,610 20.61 2.56 $13.25 $27,560
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 16,070 9.46 1.18 $13.08 $27,200