Security Guards pay range in Dover
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,890 or more. The middle half of security guards in Dover earn between $32,600 and $44,950.
- $31K10th
- $33K25th
- $35KMedian
- $45K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,380 | $3,282 | $18.93 |
| Median | $35,100 | $2,925 | $16.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,600 | $2,717 | $15.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,950 | $3,746 | $21.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Dover vs. Delaware and the U.S.
Security guards in Dover earn 10% less than the Delaware average ($43,750) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $39,380 | $35,100 | $31,200 | $51,890 | 240 |
| Delaware | $43,750 | $36,360 | $32,450 | $73,390 | 3,430 |
| 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 Dover
On the average salary of $39,380, a single filer in Dover takes home about $32,203 a year, or $2,684 a month and $1,239 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Dover a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dover area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.5), so the average $39,380 buys what about $40,387 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Dover ($46,690). A typical home costs $372,156, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in nearby metro areas
- Vineland, NJ$44,170
- Atlantic City, NJ$41,440
- Philadelphia, PA$42,180
- Baltimore, MD$42,620
- Salisbury, MD$39,870
- Lancaster, PA$40,720
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 Dover: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Dover?
$18.94 an hour on average, and $16.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Dover?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Dover?
About $32,203 a year ($2,684 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,380.
Do security guards earn more in Dover than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Dover, DE (20100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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