How Much Do Security Guards Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Security Guards in California earns $43,240 per year and takes home $36,204 ($3,017/month) — a keep-rate of 83.7%, with 199,480 employed in the state.
Free. No signup. Single filer, standard deduction — full model.
| Gross pay | $3,603.33 |
| Federal income tax | $250.73 |
| Social Security | $223.41 |
| Medicare | $52.25 |
| California state income tax | $59.91 |
| You keep | $3,017.04 |
How much do Security Guards make in California?
The median Security Guards in California earns $43,240 per year (BLS May 2025), about $20.79 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$43,240 gross in California keeps $36,204 after federal income tax ($3,009), FICA ($3,308) and state income tax ($719) — $3,017 per month, a 83.7% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Security Guards?
The California median is $5,220 above the national median of $38,020.
Which state pays Security Guards the most?
Washington DC has the highest median gross for Security Guards at $64,210 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Security Guards salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage