Guard pay in Massachusetts · Rank #8 of 51
What security guards make in Massachusetts
23,930 employed officers · $21.48/hr median ($44,500/yr) · $21.52/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in Massachusetts25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$21.48/hr median
| Security guards, Massachusetts | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $18.13 | $37,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $21.48 | $44,500 |
| Average (mean) | $21.52 | $45,000 |
| 75th percentile | $22 | $46,000 |
| 90th percentile | $26.83 | $56,000 |
| Supervisors, median | $27.83 | $58,000 |
Security guard pay by city in MassachusettsOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce4 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MABoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 19,250 | $21.63 | $21.94 | $22.32 |
| Providence, RIProvidence-Warwick, RI-MA | 4,270 | $18.33 | $19.50 | $21.40 |
| Worcester, MAWorcester, MA | 1,660 | $18.48 | $19.85 | $21.78 |
| Springfield, MASpringfield, MA | 1,310 | $19.39 | $20.88 | $22.01 |
Estimate your own pay in MassachusettsAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$18.13
$21.48
$22
$26.83
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 Massachusetts compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #8 of 51
Massachusetts ranks 8 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 18% above the national median of $18.28. The middle half of Massachusetts guards earned between $18.13 and $22 an hour; the top tenth earned $26.83 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, Massachusetts table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.