Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Security Guard Salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area, security guards earned a median annual wage of $37,400 ($17.98/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,300/year and the 90th was $75,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Delaware tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,832 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 102.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,400$17.98 per hour · $3,117 monthly
10th Percentile$33,300$16.01/hr base
25th Percentile$37,000$17.79/hr base
75th Percentile$45,700$21.97/hr base
90th Percentile$75,400$36.25/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$37,400
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,400
Net 82%
Fed 6%
DE 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,832After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,569Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,186Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,308 / yr
Delaware state income tax$1,399 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,861 / yr

Security Guards Wage Percentiles in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Security Guards in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (DE)
10th Percentile$16.01/hr$2,775$33,300$27,765
25th Percentile$17.79/hr$3,083$37,000$30,533
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.98/hr$3,117$37,400$30,832
75th Percentile$21.97/hr$3,808$45,700$37,040
90th Percentile$36.25/hr$6,283$75,400$58,239

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$37,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$91,289Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index102.62.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio41%of area median income

Compare security guards salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Delaware:

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Guards Pay in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

What is the median salary for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

The official BLS median annual wage for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $37,400, which equates to approximately $3,117 per month or $17.98 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $17.98 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.01/hour and one in ten earned more than $36.25/hour.

What is the pay range for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD span from $33,300 at the 10th percentile to $37,000 at the 25th, $45,700 at the 75th, and $75,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

On a median gross salary of $37,400, an estimated $30,832 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,186 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Delaware in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,568 (an effective rate of 17.6%).

How much do security guards make per month in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

On the median annual salary of $37,400, gross monthly income is $3,117. After federal, FICA, and Delaware state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,569 per month (or $1,186 every two weeks).

Is $37,400 a good salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?

At $37,400, the median salary for security guards is 41% of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD median household income ($91,289). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 102.6, making regional consumer goods and services 2.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.