Security Guards pay range in Lawrence
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,280 or more. The middle half of security guards in Lawrence earn between $29,160 and $37,940.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,240 | $2,937 | $16.94 |
| Median | $35,080 | $2,923 | $16.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,160 | $2,430 | $14.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,940 | $3,162 | $18.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Lawrence vs. Kansas and the U.S.
Security guards in Lawrence earn 13% less than the Kansas average ($40,350) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $35,240 | $35,080 | $28,780 | $44,280 | 160 |
| Kansas | $40,350 | $37,080 | $29,590 | $51,890 | 7,150 |
| United States | $42,470 | $38,020 | $30,210 | $58,840 | 1,283,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Lawrence
On the average salary of $35,240, a single filer in Lawrence takes home about $29,327 a year, or $2,444 a month and $1,128 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lawrence a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lawrence area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $35,240 buys what about $39,050 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lawrence ($47,390). A typical home costs $340,687, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Kansas cities
Lawrence ranks 4th of 4 Kansas metro areas for this job; Topeka pays the most ($40,090).
Highest-paying cities for security guards
Idaho Falls, ID pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($68,260).
- Idaho Falls, ID$68,260
- Fairbanks, AK$60,120
- Kennewick, WA$59,640
- Burlington, VT$55,360
- Anchorage, AK$54,540
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Security Guards salary in Lawrence: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Lawrence?
$16.94 an hour on average, and $16.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Lawrence?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Lawrence?
About $29,327 a year ($2,444 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,240.
Do security guards earn more in Lawrence than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,470).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9032; area Lawrence, KS (29940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.37, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.37).
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