Security Guards pay range in Iowa City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,180 or more. The middle half of security guards in Iowa City earn between $35,680 and $47,470.
- $29K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,680 | $3,557 | $20.52 |
| Median | $39,540 | $3,295 | $19.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,680 | $2,973 | $17.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,470 | $3,956 | $22.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Iowa City vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Security guards in Iowa City earn about the same as the Iowa average ($42,220) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $42,680 | $39,540 | $29,360 | $55,180 | 270 |
| Iowa | $42,220 | $37,080 | $30,350 | $59,290 | 6,890 |
| 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 Iowa City
On the average salary of $42,680, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $35,463 a year, or $2,955 a month and $1,364 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Iowa City a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Iowa City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $42,680 buys what about $46,640 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Iowa cities
Iowa City ranks 4th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Des Moines pays the most ($44,300).
- Des Moines$44,300
- Davenport$43,350
- Waterloo$43,070
- Iowa City$42,680
- Ames$42,590
- Sioux City$42,300
- Cedar Rapids$40,350
- Dubuque$38,220
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 Iowa City: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Iowa City?
$20.52 an hour on average, and $19.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Iowa City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Iowa City?
About $35,463 a year ($2,955 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,680. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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