Guard pay in North Dakota · Rank #20 of 51
What security guards make in North Dakota
1,310 employed officers · $18.90/hr median ($39,500/yr) · $20.74/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in North Dakota25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$18.90/hr median
| Security guards, North Dakota | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $16.81 | $35,000 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $18.90 | $39,500 |
| Average (mean) | $20.74 | $43,000 |
| 75th percentile | $21.90 | $45,500 |
| 90th percentile | $30.96 | $64,500 |
| Supervisors, median | $27.75 | $57,500 |
Security guard pay by city in North DakotaOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce3 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDBismarck, ND | 380 | $17.37 | $19.12 | $21.36 |
| Fargo, NDFargo, ND-MN | 350 | $18.16 | $20.20 | $21.65 |
| Grand Forks, NDGrand Forks, ND-MN | 110 | $20.07 | $20.07 | $21.04 |
Estimate your own pay in North DakotaAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$16.81
$18.90
$21.90
$30.96
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 North Dakota compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #20 of 51
North Dakota ranks 20 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 3% above the national median of $18.28. The middle half of North Dakota guards earned between $16.81 and $21.90 an hour; the top tenth earned $30.96 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, North Dakota table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.