Security guard salary in California after taxes
The median security guard in California earns $43,240 a year ($20.79 an hour). After 2026 taxes, that's about $35,578 a year, or $1,368.37 every two weeks.
Take-home pay at each pay level
| Pay level | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Per month | Every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,010 | $30,181 | $2,515 | $1,160.79 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $31,054 | $2,588 | $1,194.38 |
| Median | $43,240 | $35,578 | $2,965 | $1,368.37 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $38,205 | $3,184 | $1,469.44 |
| 90th percentile | $57,880 | $46,271 | $3,856 | $1,779.64 |
The 10th percentile means 10% of security guards in California earn less than this. New hires usually start near the 10th–25th percentile.
Your exact paycheck
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Security guard take-home pay in other states
California ranks #6 of 20 of the states we cover for median security guard take-home pay.
| State | Median gross | Take-home / year |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $47,480 | $40,330 |
| Washington | $47,100 | $39,372 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 | $38,498 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 | $35,953 |
| New York | $44,240 | $35,680 |
| California | $43,240 | $35,578 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | $35,550 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 | $33,677 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | $32,379 |
| Nevada | $37,310 | $32,159 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | $32,100 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 | $32,030 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 | $31,106 |
| Texas | $35,980 | $31,090 |
| Florida | $35,900 | $31,026 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $30,812 |
| Michigan | $37,080 | $30,649 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | $30,233 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 | $29,401 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | $29,289 |
Questions
How much does a security guard make in California after taxes?
The median security guard in California earns $43,240 a year ($20.79 an hour) before tax, according to BLS data for May 2025. After 2026 federal and state taxes that's about $35,578 a year, $2,965 a month or $1,368.37 every two weeks for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
How many security guards work in California?
About 199,480, according to the BLS May 2025 estimates.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, statewide, all industries. BLS wages include tips and commissions, not overtime premiums or benefits. Take-home uses 2026 tax rules for a single filer paid every two weeks with W-4 defaults and no pre-tax deductions.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state data)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A and Annual Percentage Method tables
- SSA: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500)
- California EDD, 2026 Withholding Schedules, Method B (exact calculation)
- California EDD: SDI withholding rate (1.3% in 2026, no wage cap)
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