Security Guards Salary in Wisconsin
At $37,440 a year, the median for security guards in Wisconsin is close to the national median of $38,020 (−2%); Wisconsin ranks 28th of 51 states by median. That is 26% less than the median across all occupations in Wisconsin ($50,270). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota and Illinois pay more (up to $43,380 in Minnesota) and Iowa and Michigan pay less (down to $37,080 in Michigan). Wisconsin employs 12,030 security guards, 4.09 per 1,000 jobs, the 31st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.50 means it is less common in Wisconsin than nationally.
Wisconsin vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $14.62 | $16.84 | $18.00 | $22.22 | $26.29 | $19.90 | 12,030 | 4.09 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $30,410 | $35,030 | $37,440 | $46,210 | $54,680 | $41,390 | ||||
| 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
- 28th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 31st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.50
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.09
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin
15 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $21.77 | $45,270 | $31,760 | $52,960 | 260 | 3.39 | 0.41 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $20.88 | $43,430 | $35,630 | $65,200 | 10,930 | 5.60 | 0.68 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $19.65 | $40,870 | $30,610 | $52,300 | 170 | 2.46 | 0.30 |
| Green Bay, WI | $19.30 | $40,130 | $31,510 | $53,160 | 640 | 3.69 | 0.45 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $19.24 | $40,010 | $29,440 | $51,190 | 70 | 1.12 | 0.14 |
| Madison, WI | $18.28 | $38,020 | $29,670 | $58,320 | 1,260 | 3.10 | 0.38 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $18.21 | $37,870 | $33,940 | $54,800 | 5,210 | 6.35 | 0.77 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $18.04 | $37,520 | $29,640 | $50,580 | 550 | 4.40 | 0.53 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $17.47 | $36,330 | $29,150 | $46,750 | 570 | 6.11 | 0.74 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $17.41 | $36,210 | $30,810 | $49,000 | 350 | 4.14 | 0.50 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $17.40 | $36,190 | $30,980 | $53,590 | 160 | 1.83 | 0.22 |
| Appleton, WI | $17.33 | $36,040 | $30,410 | $50,220 | 540 | 4.35 | 0.53 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $17.01 | $35,380 | $29,940 | $50,540 | 70 | 1.62 | 0.20 |
| Kenosha, WI | $16.89 | $35,120 | $27,160 | $54,680 | 420 | 5.63 | 0.68 |
| Wausau, WI | $16.54 | $34,400 | $30,030 | $51,740 | 220 | 3.13 | 0.38 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $19.07 | $39,670 | $29,960 | $50,940 | 420 | 1.97 | 0.24 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $17.63 | $36,670 | $27,930 | $54,790 | 200 | 1.56 | 0.19 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $16.77 | $34,880 | $28,010 | $54,770 | 570 | 2.91 | 0.35 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $16.50 | $34,310 | $26,340 | $44,060 | 160 | 3.31 | 0.40 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.