Guard pay in Iowa · Rank #31 of 51
What security guards make in Iowa
6,890 employed officers · $17.83/hr median ($37,000/yr) · $20.30/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in Iowa25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$17.83/hr median
| Security guards, Iowa | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $16.58 | $34,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $17.83 | $37,000 |
| Average (mean) | $20.30 | $42,000 |
| 75th percentile | $21.92 | $45,500 |
| 90th percentile | $28.51 | $59,500 |
| Supervisors, median | $22.39 | $46,500 |
Security guard pay by city in IowaOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce4 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEOmaha, NE-IA | 3,170 | $20.37 | $22.28 | $22.79 |
| Des Moines, IADes Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 2,360 | $18.05 | $21.30 | $22.47 |
| Cedar Rapids, IACedar Rapids, IA | 1,070 | $17.76 | $19.40 | $21.18 |
| Davenport, IADavenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 1,040 | $17.69 | $20.84 | $21.78 |
Estimate your own pay in IowaAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$16.58
$17.83
$21.92
$28.51
How this range is calculated & BLS source
- Experience places you inside the state wage distribution: newer guards near the 25th percentile, 7+ years between the 75th and 90th.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates (bls.gov), retrieved 2026-10-16. Ranges are statistical estimates for negotiation context, not a guarantee of pay.
How Iowa compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #31 of 51
Iowa ranks 31 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 2% below the national median of $18.28. The middle half of Iowa guards earned between $16.58 and $21.92 an hour; the top tenth earned $28.51 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates, occupations 33-9032 Security Guards and 33-1091 First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers, Iowa table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.