Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a security guard make in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ?

In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan area, security guards earned a median of $38,290 a year ($18.41 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 23,160 of these jobs there. That is 25% below the $51,380 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $33,190 and $55,290; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Arizona tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $32,383 in take-home pay.

Security guard pay in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ at a glance

Median salary

$38,290$18.41 per hour · $3,191 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$33,190$15.96/hr
25th percentile$36,250$17.43/hr
75th percentile$44,260$21.28/hr
90th percentile$55,290$26.58/hr
Jobs in this metro23,160Location quotient 1.18 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here25% belowAll-jobs median $51,380
Against Arizonaabout the same asStatewide median $38,290
Against the U.S.1% aboveNational 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.

Security guard salary in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ after taxes

$38,290
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,290
Net 85%
Fed 6%
AZ 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,383After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,699Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,245Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,415 / yr
Arizona state income tax$564 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,929 / yr

Security guards pay range in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What security guards earned in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AZ)
10th percentile$15.96/hr$2,766$33,190$28,412
25th percentile$17.43/hr$3,021$36,250$30,794
MedianMedian$18.41/hr$3,191$38,290$32,383
75th percentile$21.28/hr$3,688$44,260$37,030
90th percentile$26.58/hr$4,608$55,290$45,617

Is $38,290 a good salary in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ?

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$88,301Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)103.33.3% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household43.4%of area median income

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

Security guard pay in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ: common questions

What is the median salary for security guards in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

The BLS median annual wage for security guards in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area was $38,290 in May 2025, about $3,191 a month or $18.41 an hour. Statewide, the Arizona median for this job is $38,290, so the metro pays about the same as the state.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ was $18.41 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.96 an hour and one in ten earned more than $26.58.

How many security guards work in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

BLS estimated 23,160 jobs for security guards in the metro in May 2025, or 9.7 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.18 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for security guards in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ run from $33,190 at the 10th percentile to $36,250 at the 25th, $44,260 at the 75th, and $55,290 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

On a median gross salary of $38,290, an estimated $32,383 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,245 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Arizona in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,907 (an effective rate of 15.4%).

How much do security guards make per month in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

On the median annual salary of $38,290, gross monthly income is $3,191. After federal, FICA, and Arizona state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,699 per month (or $1,245 every two weeks).

Is $38,290 a good salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?

At $38,290, the median salary for security guards is 43.4% of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ median household income ($88,301). It is 25% below the $51,380 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 103.3, so prices here run 3.3% above the U.S. average.