Security Guards Salary in Ohio
Security Guards in Ohio have a median of $35,770 a year, below the national $38,020 (−6%); the state ranks 42nd of 51 states by median. That is 28% less than the median across all occupations in Ohio ($49,380). Among neighbouring states, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana pay more (up to $37,080 in Michigan) and Kentucky and West Virginia pay less (down to $28,800 in West Virginia). Ohio employs 34,450 security guards, 6.21 per 1,000 jobs, the 10th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.75 means it is less common in Ohio than nationally.
Ohio vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $13.96 | $14.97 | $17.20 | $21.39 | $26.65 | $19.21 | 34,450 | 6.21 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $29,030 | $31,140 | $35,770 | $44,500 | $55,440 | $39,950 | ||||
| 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
- 42nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 10th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.75
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.21
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Ohio'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 Ohio
15 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Ohio 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, OH | $18.05 | $37,540 | $22,260 | $55,020 | 160 | 3.51 | 0.43 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $17.56 | $36,510 | $29,510 | $61,470 | 2,040 | 5.48 | 0.66 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $17.36 | $36,110 | $29,670 | $54,970 | 7,970 | 7.24 | 0.88 |
| Cleveland, OH | $17.25 | $35,890 | $28,750 | $56,510 | 7,630 | 7.40 | 0.90 |
| Columbus, OH | $17.21 | $35,800 | $29,600 | $54,370 | 9,300 | 8.41 | 1.02 |
| Sandusky, OH | $17.17 | $35,710 | $26,710 | $82,160 | 230 | 4.60 | 0.56 |
| Akron, OH | $16.99 | $35,340 | $28,850 | $60,020 | 1,940 | 6.08 | 0.74 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $16.89 | $35,140 | $26,470 | $55,860 | 750 | 4.61 | 0.56 |
| Toledo, OH | $16.80 | $34,950 | $28,490 | $48,520 | 1,680 | 5.75 | 0.70 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $16.73 | $34,800 | $26,700 | $46,180 | 700 | 4.96 | 0.60 |
| Mansfield, OH | $16.19 | $33,670 | $26,970 | $61,640 | 140 | 2.79 | 0.34 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $15.87 | $33,020 | $26,930 | $49,720 | 1,490 | 9.27 | 1.12 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $15.01 | $31,230 | $25,620 | $56,430 | 150 | 4.24 | 0.51 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $14.89 | $30,960 | $21,250 | $45,060 | 330 | 5.75 | 0.70 |
| Lima, OH | $14.45 | $30,060 | $22,970 | $66,190 | 140 | 2.72 | 0.33 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $17.08 | $35,520 | $26,250 | $58,140 | 450 | 1.82 | 0.22 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $16.95 | $35,260 | $28,580 | $48,120 | 490 | 1.96 | 0.24 |
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $16.93 | $35,220 | $28,700 | $57,080 | 270 | 2.01 | 0.24 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $16.84 | $35,020 | $28,780 | $60,250 | 420 | 2.56 | 0.31 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $17.20 | $35,770 | 34,450 | 0.75 |
| Indiana | $17.54 | $36,490 | 19,930 | 0.75 |
| Kentucky | $17.03 | $35,420 | 13,580 | 0.82 |
| Michigan | $17.83 | $37,080 | 25,240 | 0.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.81 | $37,050 | 43,610 | 0.87 |
| West Virginia | $13.85 | $28,800 | 5,200 | 0.90 |
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Ohio 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 Ohio 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.