Security Guards pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,340 or more. The middle half of security guards in Albuquerque earn between $36,400 and $54,790.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $45KMedian
- $55K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,640 | $3,887 | $22.42 |
| Median | $44,780 | $3,732 | $21.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,400 | $3,033 | $17.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,790 | $4,566 | $26.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Security guards in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($46,300) and 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $46,640 | $44,780 | $30,880 | $64,340 | 4,440 |
| New Mexico | $46,300 | $43,320 | $30,220 | $64,840 | 8,410 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $46,640, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $38,617 a year, or $3,218 a month and $1,485 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 Albuquerque a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $46,640 buys what about $48,814 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 1st of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Albuquerque$46,640
- Santa Fe$44,130
- Las Cruces$41,550
- Farmington$40,070
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Albuquerque?
$22.42 an hour on average, and $21.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $38,617 a year ($3,218 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,640.
Do security guards earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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