Security Guards pay range in Lincoln
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,460 or more. The middle half of security guards in Lincoln earn between $31,460 and $43,450.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,780 | $3,398 | $19.61 |
| Median | $36,700 | $3,058 | $17.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,460 | $2,622 | $15.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,450 | $3,621 | $20.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Lincoln vs. Nebraska and the U.S.
Security guards in Lincoln earn 9% less than the Nebraska average ($45,000) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $40,780 | $36,700 | $30,470 | $60,460 | 710 |
| Nebraska | $45,000 | $39,840 | $34,020 | $70,310 | 4,700 |
| 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 Lincoln
On the average salary of $40,780, a single filer in Lincoln takes home about $33,971 a year, or $2,831 a month and $1,307 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 Lincoln a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lincoln area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $40,780 buys what about $44,529 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lincoln ($49,800). A typical home costs $304,242, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Nebraska cities
Lincoln ranks 2nd of 3 Nebraska metro areas for this job; Omaha pays the most ($46,340).
- Omaha$46,340
- Lincoln$40,780
- Grand Island$40,680
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 Lincoln: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Lincoln?
$19.61 an hour on average, and $17.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Lincoln?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Lincoln?
About $33,971 a year ($2,831 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,780.
Do security guards earn more in Lincoln 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 Lincoln, NE (30700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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