Security Guards pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,300 or more. The middle half of security guards in Reading earn between $34,570 and $43,920.
- $30K10th
- $35K25th
- $39KMedian
- $44K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,680 | $3,307 | $19.08 |
| Median | $38,960 | $3,247 | $18.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,570 | $2,881 | $16.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,920 | $3,660 | $21.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Security guards in Reading earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($40,180) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $39,680 | $38,960 | $29,990 | $50,300 | 1,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,180 | $37,050 | $30,050 | $54,830 | 43,610 |
| 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 Reading
On the average salary of $39,680, a single filer in Reading takes home about $32,845 a year, or $2,737 a month and $1,263 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $39,680 buys what about $40,882 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 9th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Chambersburg pays the most ($44,550).
- Chambersburg$44,550
- Philadelphia$42,180
- Gettysburg$41,170
- Lancaster$40,720
- York$40,680
- Harrisburg$40,500
- Scranton$40,080
- Allentown$39,900
- Reading$39,680
- Pittsburgh$39,530
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 Reading: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Reading?
$19.08 an hour on average, and $18.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Reading?
About $32,845 a year ($2,737 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,680. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Reading 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 Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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