Security Guards Salary in Illinois
The median for security guards in Illinois is $39,490 a year, somewhat above the national $38,020 (+4%); the state ranks 19th of 51 states by median. That is 24% less than the median across all occupations in Illinois ($51,960). Among neighbouring states, Missouri pays more (up to $40,390 in Missouri) and Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky pay less (down to $35,420 in Kentucky). Illinois employs 53,830 security guards, 8.83 per 1,000 jobs, the 5th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.07 is close to the national share.
Illinois vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.08 | $17.82 | $18.98 | $22.29 | $30.75 | $21.27 | 53,830 | 8.83 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $35,520 | $37,060 | $39,490 | $46,360 | $63,950 | $44,240 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.52 | $16.93 | $18.28 | $22.21 | $28.29 | $20.42 | 1,283,470 | – | – |
| Annual | $30,210 | $35,210 | $38,020 | $46,200 | $58,840 | $42,470 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 19th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 5th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.07
- Jobs per 1,000
- 8.83
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Illinois's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Illinois
12 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Illinois publish a row for security guards, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $20.48 | $42,600 | $32,460 | $60,590 | 9,720 | 7.25 | 0.88 |
| Springfield, IL | $20.31 | $42,240 | $33,460 | $57,350 | 680 | 6.74 | 0.82 |
| Decatur, IL | $19.82 | $41,220 | $31,200 | $48,010 | 150 | 3.23 | 0.39 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $19.22 | $39,990 | $35,940 | $64,180 | 48,360 | 10.72 | 1.30 |
| Peoria, IL | $18.52 | $38,530 | $31,200 | $58,620 | 540 | 3.23 | 0.39 |
| Rockford, IL | $17.77 | $36,960 | $31,200 | $59,500 | 760 | 5.49 | 0.67 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $17.69 | $36,800 | $31,200 | $72,090 | 1,040 | 5.79 | 0.70 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $17.61 | $36,630 | $29,330 | $46,870 | 140 | 3.22 | 0.39 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $17.49 | $36,370 | $28,430 | $86,710 | 170 | 3.38 | 0.41 |
| Bloomington, IL | $17.08 | $35,520 | $31,460 | $57,310 | 470 | 5.35 | 0.65 |
| Kankakee, IL | $17.01 | $35,380 | $31,200 | $58,180 | 310 | 7.35 | 0.89 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $16.46 | $34,250 | $31,200 | $51,600 | 390 | 3.70 | 0.45 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $20.48 | $42,600 | $31,220 | $74,510 | 600 | 4.74 | 0.57 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $19.06 | $39,640 | $31,230 | $55,720 | 310 | 2.20 | 0.27 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $17.92 | $37,280 | $31,200 | $75,550 | 490 | 2.88 | 0.35 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $17.12 | $35,620 | $31,200 | $47,280 | 440 | 3.14 | 0.38 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Illinois wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Illinois estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.