Security Guards Salary in Iowa
Security Guards in Iowa have a median of $37,080 a year, below the national $38,020 (−2%); the state ranks 31st of 51 states by median. That is 24% less than the median across all occupations in Iowa ($48,540). Every neighbouring state pays more: Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and South Dakota range from $37,150 in South Dakota to $43,380 in Minnesota. Iowa employs 6,890 security guards, 4.42 per 1,000 jobs, the 37th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.54 means it is less common in Iowa than nationally.
Iowa vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $14.59 | $16.58 | $17.83 | $21.92 | $28.51 | $20.30 | 6,890 | 4.42 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $30,350 | $34,480 | $37,080 | $45,590 | $59,290 | $42,220 | ||||
| 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
- 31st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 37th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.54
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.42
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Iowa'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 Iowa
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $20.37 | $42,370 | $35,740 | $76,110 | 3,170 | 6.36 | 0.77 |
| Iowa City, IA | $19.01 | $39,540 | $29,360 | $55,180 | 270 | 2.87 | 0.35 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $18.59 | $38,670 | $31,240 | $60,080 | 380 | 4.55 | 0.55 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $18.50 | $38,480 | $30,520 | $66,810 | 350 | 4.61 | 0.56 |
| Dubuque, IA | $18.09 | $37,620 | $29,510 | $44,330 | 170 | 2.90 | 0.35 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $18.05 | $37,550 | $30,380 | $73,730 | 2,360 | 5.84 | 0.71 |
| Ames, IA | $17.99 | $37,430 | $30,010 | $53,260 | 260 | 4.66 | 0.56 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $17.76 | $36,940 | $30,390 | $48,200 | 1,070 | 7.66 | 0.93 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $17.69 | $36,800 | $31,200 | $72,090 | 1,040 | 5.79 | 0.70 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $18.00 | $37,440 | $30,300 | $58,200 | 570 | 2.87 | 0.35 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $17.62 | $36,650 | $29,740 | $58,310 | 210 | 1.40 | 0.17 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $17.10 | $35,570 | $30,350 | $45,970 | 100 | 1.42 | 0.17 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $16.65 | $34,630 | $30,100 | $44,180 | 340 | 3.46 | 0.42 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Iowa 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 Iowa 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.