Security Guards Salary in Nevada
At $37,310 a year, the median for security guards in Nevada is close to the national median of $38,020 (−2%); Nevada ranks 29th of 51 states by median. That is 22% less than the median across all occupations in Nevada ($47,660). Every neighbouring state pays more: Oregon, California, Utah, Idaho and Arizona range from $38,290 in Arizona to $45,500 in Oregon. Nevada employs 26,680 security guards, 17.2 per 1,000 jobs, the 15th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 2.08 means the occupation is more concentrated in Nevada than nationally.
Nevada vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $14.01 | $16.64 | $17.94 | $21.44 | $23.24 | $19.12 | 26,680 | 17.20 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $29,140 | $34,610 | $37,310 | $44,600 | $48,340 | $39,770 | ||||
| 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
- 29th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 15th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 2.08
- Jobs per 1,000
- 17.20
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Nevada'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 Nevada
3 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Nevada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | $20.98 | $43,640 | $32,940 | $67,040 | 120 | 3.80 | 0.46 |
| Reno, NV | $18.93 | $39,370 | $30,270 | $55,010 | 1,900 | 6.88 | 0.83 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $17.89 | $37,210 | $29,100 | $47,930 | 23,800 | 20.93 | 2.54 |
| Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $17.97 | $37,390 | $28,550 | $71,590 | 780 | 8.67 | 1.05 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $17.94 | $37,310 | 26,680 | 2.08 |
| Arizona | $18.41 | $38,290 | 29,820 | 1.12 |
| California | $20.79 | $43,240 | 199,480 | 1.33 |
| Idaho | $18.41 | $38,300 | 3,750 | 0.53 |
| Oregon | $21.88 | $45,500 | 12,200 | 0.75 |
| Utah | $20.53 | $42,700 | 7,310 | 0.51 |
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Nevada 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 Nevada 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.