Security Guards Salary in Louisiana
In Louisiana, security guards earn a median $32,240 a year, well below the national median of $38,020 (−15%); the state ranks 49th of 51 states by median. That is 29% less than the median across all occupations in Louisiana ($45,520). Among neighbouring states, Texas and Arkansas pay more (up to $35,980 in Texas) and Mississippi pays less (down to $29,180 in Mississippi). Louisiana employs 17,210 security guards, 8.89 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.08 is close to the national share.
Louisiana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $11.37 | $14.15 | $15.50 | $18.42 | $23.58 | $17.35 | 17,210 | 8.89 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $23,660 | $29,430 | $32,240 | $38,310 | $49,040 | $36,080 | ||||
| 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
- 49th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.08
- Jobs per 1,000
- 8.89
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Louisiana'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 Louisiana
9 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $17.55 | $36,500 | $29,050 | $56,150 | 2,810 | 6.85 | 0.83 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $16.47 | $34,260 | $28,120 | $85,660 | 400 | 4.03 | 0.49 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $15.50 | $32,240 | $23,590 | $48,990 | 6,650 | 14.93 | 1.81 |
| Hammond, LA | $14.84 | $30,880 | $22,060 | $40,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $14.77 | $30,720 | $23,320 | $48,220 | 1,130 | 6.93 | 0.84 |
| Lafayette, LA | $14.47 | $30,090 | $25,450 | $45,200 | 900 | 4.99 | 0.60 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $14.30 | $29,740 | $21,620 | $48,530 | 870 | 8.54 | 1.03 |
| Alexandria, LA | $14.15 | $29,430 | $24,210 | $46,990 | 410 | 6.84 | 0.83 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $13.96 | $29,040 | $20,330 | $45,400 | 410 | 4.90 | 0.59 |
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $16.56 | $34,440 | $21,890 | $52,430 | 530 | 6.83 | 0.83 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $14.79 | $30,760 | $23,000 | $45,900 | 190 | 3.10 | 0.38 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $14.65 | $30,460 | $24,160 | $46,020 | 270 | 3.33 | 0.40 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $15.50 | $32,240 | 17,210 | 1.08 |
| Arkansas | $17.20 | $35,770 | 6,390 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | $14.03 | $29,180 | 10,160 | 1.06 |
| Texas | $17.30 | $35,980 | 106,210 | 0.91 |
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Louisiana 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 Louisiana estimates.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- 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.