Security Guards pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,180 or more. The middle half of security guards in Chicago earn between $37,060 and $46,360.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $40KMedian
- $46K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,360 | $3,697 | $21.33 |
| Median | $39,990 | $3,332 | $19.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,060 | $3,088 | $17.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,360 | $3,863 | $22.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Security guards in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($44,240) and 4% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $44,360 | $39,990 | $35,940 | $64,180 | 48,360 |
| Illinois | $44,240 | $39,490 | $35,520 | $63,950 | 53,830 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $44,360, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $35,769 a year, or $2,981 a month and $1,376 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $36,522 | $3,044 |
| Working in IL | $35,769 | $2,981 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $44,360 buys what about $42,821 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$44,360
- Springfield$43,700
- Peoria$43,220
- Decatur$41,960
- Rockford$41,610
- Kankakee$41,030
- Bloomington$40,940
- Champaign$39,720
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 Chicago: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Chicago?
$21.33 an hour on average, and $19.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Chicago?
About $35,769 a year ($2,981 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,360.
Do security guards earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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