Security Guards pay range in Tampa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,700 or more. The middle half of security guards in Tampa earn between $33,510 and $42,410.
- $29K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $42K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,060 | $3,172 | $18.30 |
| Median | $36,010 | $3,001 | $17.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,510 | $2,792 | $16.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,410 | $3,534 | $20.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Tampa vs. Florida and the U.S.
Security guards in Tampa earn about the same as the Florida average ($37,610) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | $38,060 | $36,010 | $28,800 | $47,700 | 12,200 |
| Florida | $37,610 | $35,900 | $29,470 | $46,090 | 95,370 |
| 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 Tampa
On the average salary of $38,060, a single filer in Tampa takes home about $32,761 a year, or $2,730 a month and $1,260 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 Tampa a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tampa area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $38,060 buys what about $37,724 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Tampa ($48,940). A typical home costs $360,738, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Florida cities
Tampa ranks 6th of 22 Florida metro areas for this job; Naples pays the most ($42,850).
- Naples$42,850
- Crestview$38,830
- Palm Bay$38,790
- Sarasota$38,750
- Port St. Lucie$38,330
- Tampa$38,060
- Miami$37,900
- Jacksonville$37,140
- Punta Gorda$36,950
- Wildwood$36,870
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 Tampa: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Tampa?
$18.30 an hour on average, and $17.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Tampa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Tampa?
About $32,761 a year ($2,730 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,060. Florida has no state income tax.
Do security guards earn more in Tampa 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (45300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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