Security Guards pay range in Duluth
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,580 or more. The middle half of security guards in Duluth earn between $33,450 and $42,760.
- $30K10th
- $33K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,500 | $3,292 | $18.99 |
| Median | $37,520 | $3,127 | $18.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,450 | $2,788 | $16.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,760 | $3,563 | $20.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Duluth vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Security guards in Duluth earn 13% less than the Minnesota average ($45,460) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $39,500 | $37,520 | $29,640 | $50,580 | 550 |
| Minnesota | $45,460 | $43,380 | $33,760 | $65,090 | 14,440 |
| 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 Duluth
On the average salary of $39,500, a single filer in Duluth takes home about $32,624 a year, or $2,719 a month and $1,255 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Duluth, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $32,859 | $2,738 |
| Working in MN | $32,624 | $2,719 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Duluth a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Duluth area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $39,500 buys what about $44,498 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Duluth ($50,000). A typical home costs $264,350, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Minnesota cities
Duluth ranks 5th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Rochester pays the most ($47,040).
- Rochester$47,040
- Minneapolis$46,380
- St. Cloud$40,850
- Mankato$40,010
- Duluth$39,500
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 Duluth: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Duluth?
$18.99 an hour on average, and $18.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Duluth?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Duluth?
About $32,624 a year ($2,719 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,500. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Duluth 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 Duluth, MN-WI (20260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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