Security Guard salary in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Security Guards in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area earn a median of $29,290 a year ($14.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,360 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 19% lower than the Texas statewide median of $35,980. There are 14 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,100 | $11.11 |
| 25th percentile | $23,650 | $11.37 |
| Median | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| 75th percentile | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| Average (mean) | $31,280 | $15.04 |
Half of security guards earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,440.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,220.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,126.54 |
| Weekly | $563.27 |
| Hourly | $14.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Security Guard salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | $38,420 | 230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $37,920 | 8,410 |
| Midland, TX | $37,500 | 240 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,680 | 34,000 |
| Tyler, TX | $36,170 | 530 |
| Abilene, TX | $36,120 | 220 |
| Amarillo, TX | $35,520 | 590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,460 | 29,250 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $35,390 | 730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $35,270 | 11,420 |
| Waco, TX | $35,270 | 650 |
| Lubbock, TX | $35,220 | 850 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $35,010 | 1,100 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $34,920 | 220 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $34,060 | 150 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,030 | 490 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $33,870 | 1,210 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $33,860 | 150 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,740 | 1,100 |
| San Angelo, TX | $33,700 | 120 |
| Victoria, TX | $32,950 | 130 |
| Longview, TX | $31,730 | 550 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $30,030 | 140 |
| El Paso, TX | $29,740 | 3,700 |
| Laredo, TX | $29,180 | 900 |
Highest-paying states for security guards
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| Alaska | $47,480 |
| Washington | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $45,550 |
| Oregon | $45,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 |
| Colorado | $45,150 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 |
| New York | $44,240 |
| Virginia | $43,640 |
See Security Guard pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $27,950 | $13.44 |
| School Bus Monitor | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,420 | $12.22 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| Animal Control Worker | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Firefighter | $50,740 | $24.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $88,450 | $42.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $38,720 | $18.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $62,660 | $30.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $59,890 | $28.80 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
The median salary for security guards in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area is $29,290 a year, or $14.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
The top 10% of security guards in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area earn at least $38,360 a year. The top 25% earn $35,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,100 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $23,650 or less.
How many security guards work in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX?
About 4,100 security guards are employed in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.