Security Guards pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,450 or more. The middle half of security guards in Boston earn between $38,860 and $46,420.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $46K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 |
| Median | $44,990 | $3,749 | $21.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,860 | $3,238 | $18.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,420 | $3,868 | $22.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Security guards in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($44,760) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $45,640 | $44,990 | $35,780 | $56,450 | 19,250 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $45,640, a single filer in Boston takes home about $36,890 a year, or $3,074 a month and $1,419 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $38,852 | $3,238 |
| Working in MA | $36,890 | $3,074 |
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 Boston a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $45,640 buys what about $42,155 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 16.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd 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 Boston: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Boston?
$21.94 an hour on average, and $21.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Boston?
About $36,890 a year ($3,074 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,640. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). 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: 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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