Security Guards Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 183,620 Security Guards professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
183,620
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
183.62
workers
Location Quotient
7.78
vs national avg
Average Salary
$44K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 7.78 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Security Guards professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
183,620
National: 1,202,960
15.3% of national
Jobs per 1,000
183.62
National: 23.59
+678.4%
Average Salary
$44K
National: $39K
+13.1%

Top States by Security Guards Employment

#1
183,620
183,620
employed
#2
121,920
121,920
employed
#3
98,660
98,660
employed
#4
91,200
91,200
employed
#5
51,340
51,340
employed
#6
43,440
43,440
employed
#7
37,910
37,910
employed
#8
35,910
35,910
employed
#9
34,490
34,490
employed
#10
33,600
33,600
employed

What Does a Security Guards Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Security Guards in California is $44,940. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Security Guards jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 183,620 Security Guards professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Security Guards in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Security Guards jobs (LQ: 7.78). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Security Guards in California?

The average (mean) salary for Security Guards in California is $44940/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Security Guards professionals?

The top state for Security Guards employment is California with 183,620 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Security Guards (SOC 339032) in California.

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