Wages vary by area of the country and the security guard's level of experience. In addition, armed guards earn higher wages than unarmed guards. Some guards receive higher wages for working evening or night shifts. They may also be paid higher wages for working overtime.
Security guards who work full time often receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.
Security guards (SOC 33-9032)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $15.17 | $17.84 | $19.08 |
| Yearly | $31,543 | $37,121 | $39,682 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $12.63 | $15.63 | $18.90 |
| Yearly | $26,260 | $32,505 | $39,302 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $16.04 | $18.43 | $22.06 |
| Yearly | $33,371 | $38,331 | $45,900 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $15.17 | $17.84 | $19.08 |
| Yearly | $31,543 | $37,121 | $39,682 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $15.33 | $18.13 | $24.44 |
| Yearly | $31,899 | $37,717 | $50,838 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $15.33 | $18.11 | $22.78 |
| Yearly | $31,898 | $37,666 | $47,370 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $15.68 | $18.41 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $32,610 | $38,280 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $13.93 | $16.10 | $22.13 |
| Yearly | $28,980 | $33,473 | $46,026 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $15.04 | $17.86 | $31.37 |
| Yearly | $31,295 | $37,155 | $65,240 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $16.32 | $18.24 | $22.99 |
| Yearly | $33,937 | $37,933 | $47,819 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $14.63 | $17.81 | $23.15 |
| Yearly | $30,440 | $37,039 | $48,146 | |
| Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $13.88 | $15.34 | $18.54 |
| Yearly | $28,874 | $31,913 | $38,560 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $15.15 | $18.22 | $24.23 |
| Yearly | $31,502 | $37,890 | $50,396 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $14.62 | $15.68 | $18.13 |
| Yearly | $30,424 | $32,610 | $37,724 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $14.00 | $15.79 | $19.86 |
| Yearly | $29,106 | $32,859 | $41,307 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $13.92 | $17.95 | $23.14 |
| Yearly | $28,963 | $37,328 | $48,129 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $14.50 | $16.32 | $18.22 |
| Yearly | $30,163 | $33,938 | $37,885 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $13.20 | $14.21 | $18.29 |
| Yearly | $27,464 | $29,567 | $38,046 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $14.47 | $18.21 | $18.27 |
| Yearly | $30,085 | $37,862 | $38,000 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $14.55 | $17.00 | $19.96 |
| Yearly | $30,271 | $35,343 | $41,527 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $13.03 | $18.20 | $20.12 |
| Yearly | $27,104 | $37,855 | $41,842 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $15.39 | $18.27 | $21.84 |
| Yearly | $32,000 | $37,996 | $45,439 | |
| United States | Hourly | $13.88 | $16.71 | $18.96 |
| Yearly | $28,860 | $34,750 | $39,440 | |