Security Guards pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,940 or more. The middle half of security guards in Detroit earn between $34,400 and $47,040.
- $29K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $47K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,790 | $3,399 | $19.61 |
| Median | $37,050 | $3,088 | $17.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,400 | $2,867 | $16.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,040 | $3,920 | $22.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Security guards in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($40,640) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $40,790 | $37,050 | $29,170 | $54,940 | 12,570 |
| Michigan | $40,640 | $37,080 | $29,790 | $54,770 | 25,240 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $40,790, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $32,628 a year, or $2,719 a month and $1,255 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $40,790 buys what about $40,669 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 8th of 14 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($44,570).
- Grand Rapids$44,570
- Ann Arbor$43,610
- Midland$42,000
- Lansing$41,860
- Saginaw$41,630
- Kalamazoo$41,170
- Niles$41,040
- Detroit$40,790
- Traverse City$40,280
- Jackson$39,920
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Security Guards salary in Detroit: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Detroit?
$19.61 an hour on average, and $17.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Detroit?
About $32,628 a year ($2,719 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,790. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do security guards earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.