LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Security Guards in Reading, PA · Generated June 14, 2026
Security Guards Salary in Reading, PA $38,960/yr
$38,960
Mean: $39,680
~$30,389 est. take-home
$18.73
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Tight
Affordability score: 27/100
$303/mo
11%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$34,570
Median
$38,960
75th %
$43,920
Median is in the 47th percentile of the typical range
Security Guards in other PA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in PA.
About Security Guards salaries in Reading, PA
Security Guards in Reading, PA earn a median of $38,960 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $39,680, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most security guards in this area earn between $34,570 and $43,920. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $18.73 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
5% growth. Steady demand from office buildings, hospitals, schools, and event venues. Some roles are evolving to include monitoring digital security systems alongside traditional patrols.
Worth knowing: Armed security certifications and state guard cards open up better-paying positions. Corporate and hospital security roles pay noticeably more than residential or retail assignments.
Security Guards Jobs in Reading, PA
Median: $38,960/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a security guards in Reading?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $38,960. The average (mean) is $39,680, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a security guards make per hour in Reading?▾
About $18.73/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for security guards in Reading?▾
The middle 50% earn between $34,570 and $43,920. Below $34,570 is typically entry-level; above $43,920 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $38,960 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $38,960 | $30,389 |
| Monthly | $3,247 | $2,532 |
| Biweekly | $1,498 | $1,169 |
| Weekly | $749 | $584 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $18.73 | $14.61 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $21.41 | $16.7 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $24.97 | $19.48 |
| Daily (8h) | $150 | $117 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Security Guards: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for security guards, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in Reading
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Security Guards salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for security guards across all states.
- All PA salary data — every occupation we cover in PA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Security Guards in Idaho Falls, ID — the top-paying city for security guards in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Reading.
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $100,131.