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Madison, WI metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a security guard make in Madison, WI?

In the Madison, WI metropolitan area, security guards earned a median of $38,020 a year ($18.28 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,260 of these jobs there. That is 35% below the $58,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $29,670 and $58,320; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Wisconsin tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $31,743 in take-home pay.

Security guard pay in Madison, WI at a glance

Median salary

$38,020$18.28 per hour · $3,168 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$29,670$14.27/hr
25th percentile$35,180$16.91/hr
75th percentile$49,560$23.83/hr
90th percentile$58,320$28.04/hr
Jobs in this metro1,260Location quotient 0.38 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here35% belowAll-jobs median $58,080
Against Wisconsin2% aboveStatewide median $37,440
Against the U.S.about the same asNational median $38,020

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $38,000 a year leaves after tax in WisconsinFederal tax, FICA and Wisconsin withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $38,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $38,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Wisconsin publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Wisconsin.

Security guard salary in Madison, WI after taxes

$38,020
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,020
Net 83%
Fed 6%
WI 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,743After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,645Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,221Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,382 / yr
Wisconsin state income tax$986 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,909 / yr
Customize deductions in full Wisconsin calculator

Security guards pay range in Madison, WI, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Madison, WI metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What security guards earned in the Madison, WI metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WI)
10th percentile$14.27/hr$2,473$29,670$25,445
25th percentile$16.91/hr$2,932$35,180$29,601
MedianMedian$18.28/hr$3,168$38,020$31,743
75th percentile$23.83/hr$4,130$49,560$40,446
90th percentile$28.04/hr$4,860$58,320$47,053

Is $38,020 a good salary in Madison, WI?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for security guards next to both.

Median household income$88,804Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)97.32.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household42.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Security guards pay in other Wisconsin metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Madison, WI. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Security guard pay in Madison, WI: common questions

What is the median salary for security guards in Madison, WI?

The BLS median annual wage for security guards in the Madison, WI metro area was $38,020 in May 2025, about $3,168 a month or $18.28 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $37,440, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Madison, WI?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Madison, WI was $18.28 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.27 an hour and one in ten earned more than $28.04.

How many security guards work in Madison, WI?

BLS estimated 1,260 jobs for security guards in the metro in May 2025, or 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.38 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for security guards in Madison, WI?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Madison, WI run from $29,670 at the 10th percentile to $35,180 at the 25th, $49,560 at the 75th, and $58,320 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Madison, WI?

On a median gross salary of $38,020, an estimated $31,743 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,221 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,277 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do security guards make per month in Madison, WI?

On the median annual salary of $38,020, gross monthly income is $3,168. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,645 per month (or $1,221 every two weeks).

Is $38,020 a good salary in Madison, WI?

At $38,020, the median salary for security guards is 42.8% of the Madison, WI median household income ($88,804). It is 35% below the $58,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 97.3, so prices here run 2.7% below the U.S. average.