Security Guard Average Salary in District of Columbia 2024
How much money does a person working as Security Guard make in District of Columbia?
LOW
12,800
USD AVERAGE
24,600
USD HIGH
37,700
USD
A person working as Security Guard in District of Columbia typically earns around 24,600 USD. Salaries range from 12,800 USD (lowest) to 37,700 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Security Guard salaries in District of Columbia vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Security Guard Pay Scale and Salaries in District of Columbia
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
22,300 USD or more
19,900 to 22,300 USD
14,500 USD or less
14,500 to 19,900 USD
 12,800 USD |
22,400 USD |
37,700 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Security Guard in District of Columbia range from 12,800 USD (starting salary) to 37,700 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 22,400 USD, half of the professionals who work as Security Guard in District of Columbia earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Security Guard in District of Columbia earn less than 18,600 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 25,400 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Security Guard in District of Columbia compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 14,500 USD to 19,900 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 14,500 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 19,900 USD to 22,300 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 22,300 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Security Guard / District of Columbia
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 14,500 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 19,500 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +30% | 25,400 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +21% | 30,700 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 33,600 USD |
| 20+ Years | +5% | 35,300 USD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Security Guard and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 14,500 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 19,500 USD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 25,400 USD, 30% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 30,700 USD, 21% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 33,600 USD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 35,300 USD, 5% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Security Guard / District of Columbia
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Security Guard.
| High School | 18,300 USD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +68% | 30,700 USD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Security Guard in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 18,300 USD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 30,700 USD, 68% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Security Guard / District of Columbia
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Security Guard in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
| Male | 29,000 USD | |
| Female | -5% | 27,700 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Security Guard / District of Columbia
How much are annual salary increments in District of Columbia for individuals working as Security Guard? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Security Guard in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Security Guard / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
Share This Chart Tweet Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/united-states/law-enforcement-security-fire/security-guard/annual-salary-bonus-rate-united-states-security-guard.jpg
100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Security Guard / District of Columbia
12 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Security Guard in District of Columbia is 12 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Security Guard in District of Columbia is 6 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Law Enforcement / Security / Fire |  -100% | |
| Accreditation Coordinator | 69,800 USD |  +180% |
| Accreditation Manager | 106,000 USD | +330% |
| Advocate | 63,200 USD | +160% |
| Armed Security Officer | 60,600 USD | +150% |
| Behavioral Analyst | 83,400 USD | +240% |
| Body-Worn Camera Technician | 52,900 USD | +110% |
| Civilian Review Board Investigator | 69,000 USD | +180% |
| Company Guard | 29,500 USD | +20% |
| Control Room Operator | 27,900 USD | +13% |
| Correctional Officer | 46,200 USD | +88% |
| Crime Scene Reconstructionist | 74,600 USD | +200% |
| Criminal Investigator | 92,300 USD | +270% |
| Crisis Negotiator | 82,300 USD | +230% |
| Cyberbullying Investigator | 78,400 USD | +220% |
| Digital Forensic Analyst | 84,200 USD | +240% |
| E-crime Investigator | 92,000 USD | +270% |
| Facility Monitor | 54,500 USD | +120% |
| Fire Chief | 90,300 USD | +270% |
| Fire Dispatcher | 47,800 USD | +94% |
| Fire Education Specialist | 79,900 USD | +220% |
| Fire Extinguisher Technician | 29,200 USD | +19% |
| Fire Fighter | 48,000 USD | +95% |
| Fire Inspector | 84,100 USD | +240% |
| Fire Investigator | 90,800 USD | +270% |
| Fire Prevention Engineer | 75,800 USD | +210% |
| Fire Prevention Officer | 62,800 USD | +160% |
| Fire Protection Specialist | 80,800 USD | +230% |
| Forensic Artist | 53,100 USD | +120% |
| Forensic Entomologist | 61,600 USD | +150% |
| Forensic Investigator | 81,000 USD | +230% |
| Forensic Science Technician | 90,800 USD | +270% |
| Fraud and Forensic Specialist | 94,600 USD | +280% |
| Fraud Examiner | 94,800 USD | +280% |
| Grants Specialist | 107,000 USD | +330% |
| Hate Crime Investigator | 70,400 USD | +190% |
| Human Trafficking Investigator | 75,800 USD | +210% |
| Identity Theft Investigator | 71,300 USD | +190% |
| Intellectual Property Associate | 78,000 USD | +220% |
| Intelligence Research Specialist | 139,000 USD | +460% |
| Investigator | 91,800 USD | +270% |
| Jail Officer | 37,900 USD | +54% |
| Juvenile Probation Officer | 64,800 USD | +160% |
| Juvenile Supervision Officer | 63,200 USD | +160% |
| Licensing and Permitting Specialist | 77,100 USD | +210% |
| Lock-Smith | 27,100 USD | +10% |
| Open Source Intelligence Analyst | 86,800 USD | +250% |
| Parole Officer | 47,800 USD | +94% |
| Police Captain | 110,000 USD | +350% |
| Police Communications Officer | 63,200 USD | +160% |
| Police Officer | 49,200 USD | +100% |
| Police Patrol Officer | 47,800 USD | +94% |
| Police Social Worker | 48,000 USD | +95% |
| Predictive Analyst | 69,000 USD | +180% |
| Prison Officer | 38,900 USD | +58% |
| Prisoner Custody Officer | 32,000 USD | +30% |
| Private Detective / Investigator | 95,200 USD | +290% |
| Problem-Oriented Policing Specialist | 72,600 USD | +190% |
| School Resource Officer | 44,100 USD | +79% |
| Security Adviser | 88,500 USD | +260% |
| Security Guard | 24,600 USD | -0% |
| Security Management Specialist | 126,000 USD | +410% |
| Security Manager | 133,000 USD | +440% |
| Security Officer | 30,500 USD | +24% |
| Security Supervisor | 74,200 USD | +200% |
| Security Systems Installer | 66,700 USD | +170% |
| Security Technician | 29,100 USD | +18% |
| Social Media Investigator | 70,800 USD | +190% |
| Surveillance Operator | 35,400 USD | +44% |
| Tactical Analyst | 77,600 USD | +220% |
| Technological Crime Investigator | 84,900 USD | +240% |
| Traffic Controller | 49,200 USD | +100% |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Security Guard in District of Columbia?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 22,400 USD and 25,400 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Security Guard in District of Columbia ranges from 12,800 USD to 18,600 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
