Security Guards pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,200 or more. The middle half of security guards in Lafayette earn between $29,190 and $36,960.
- $25K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $37K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,400 | $2,867 | $16.54 |
| Median | $30,090 | $2,508 | $14.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,190 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Security guards in Lafayette earn 5% less than the Louisiana average ($36,080) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $34,400 | $30,090 | $25,450 | $45,200 | 900 |
| Louisiana | $36,080 | $32,240 | $23,660 | $49,040 | 17,210 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $34,400, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $29,175 a year, or $2,431 a month and $1,122 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $34,400 buys what about $39,445 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 6th of 9 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Slidell pays the most ($40,080).
- Slidell$40,080
- Baton Rouge$39,690
- New Orleans$36,440
- Shreveport$35,560
- Alexandria$35,000
- Lafayette$34,400
- Lake Charles$33,780
- Hammond$31,430
- Houma$30,820
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Security Guards salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Lafayette?
$16.54 an hour on average, and $14.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $29,175 a year ($2,431 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,400.
Do security guards earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.