Security Guards pay range in Santa Fe
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,600 or more. The middle half of security guards in Santa Fe earn between $35,000 and $48,350.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $41KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,130 | $3,678 | $21.22 |
| Median | $40,980 | $3,415 | $19.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,000 | $2,917 | $16.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,350 | $4,029 | $23.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Santa Fe vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Security guards in Santa Fe earn 5% less than the New Mexico average ($46,300) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $44,130 | $40,980 | $32,000 | $60,600 | 630 |
| New Mexico | $46,300 | $43,320 | $30,220 | $64,840 | 8,410 |
| 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 Santa Fe
On the average salary of $44,130, a single filer in Santa Fe takes home about $36,708 a year, or $3,059 a month and $1,412 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).
Is Santa Fe a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Fe area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.8), so the average $44,130 buys what about $44,681 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Fe ($48,710). A typical home costs $558,896, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe ranks 2nd of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Albuquerque pays the most ($46,640).
- Albuquerque$46,640
- Santa Fe$44,130
- Las Cruces$41,550
- Farmington$40,070
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 Santa Fe: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Santa Fe?
$21.22 an hour on average, and $19.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Santa Fe?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Santa Fe?
About $36,708 a year ($3,059 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,130.
Do security guards earn more in Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe, NM (42140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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