Security Guards pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,520 or more. The middle half of security guards in Waco earn between $28,140 and $43,040.
- $27K10th
- $28K25th
- $35KMedian
- $43K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,140 | $3,178 | $18.34 |
| Median | $35,270 | $2,939 | $16.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,140 | $2,345 | $13.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,040 | $3,587 | $20.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Security guards in Waco earn about the same as the Texas average ($38,550) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $38,140 | $35,270 | $27,090 | $60,520 | 650 |
| Texas | $38,550 | $35,980 | $26,950 | $50,740 | 106,210 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $38,140, a single filer in Waco takes home about $32,825 a year, or $2,735 a month and $1,263 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Waco a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $38,140 buys what about $41,210 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 13th of 26 Texas metro areas for this job; Odessa pays the most ($45,950).
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 Waco: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Waco?
$18.34 an hour on average, and $16.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Waco?
About $32,825 a year ($2,735 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,140. Texas has no state income tax.
Do security guards earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Waco, TX (47380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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