Security Guards pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,810 or more. The middle half of security guards in Amherst earn between $34,250 and $44,640.
- $34K10th
- $34K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,880 | $3,407 | $19.65 |
| Median | $37,600 | $3,133 | $18.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,250 | $2,854 | $16.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,640 | $3,720 | $21.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Security guards in Amherst earn 9% less than the Massachusetts average ($44,760) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $40,880 | $37,600 | $33,990 | $48,810 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,760 | $44,670 | $34,830 | $55,800 | 23,930 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $40,880, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $33,303 a year, or $2,775 a month and $1,281 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $40,880 buys what about $40,781 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 6th of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($47,690).
- Barnstable$47,690
- Boston$45,640
- Pittsfield$45,490
- Springfield$43,420
- Worcester$41,290
- Amherst$40,880
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 Amherst: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Amherst?
$19.65 an hour on average, and $18.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Amherst?
About $33,303 a year ($2,775 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,880. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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