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Security Guards Employment & Job Outlook in Illinois (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Illinois employs 53,830 Security Guards professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Illinois employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
53,830
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
53.83
workers
Location Quotient
2.14
vs national avg
Average Salary
$44K
annual

High Demand in Illinois

The location quotient (LQ) of 2.14 indicates that Illinois 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.

Illinois vs National Average

Total Employed
53,830
National: 1,283,480
4.2% of national
Jobs per 1,000
53.83
National: 25.17
+113.9%
Average Salary
$44K
National: $42K
+4.0%

Top States by Security Guards Employment

#1
199,480
199,480
employed
#2
134,700
134,700
employed
#3
106,210
106,210
employed
#4
95,370
95,370
employed
#5
53,830
53,830
employed
#6
43,610
43,610
employed
#7
41,540
41,540
employed
#8
36,210
36,210
employed
#9
34,870
34,870
employed
#10
34,450
34,450
employed

What Does a Security Guards Earn in Illinois?

The average annual salary for a Security Guards in Illinois is $44,240. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Security Guards jobs are there in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 53,830 Security Guards professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Illinois among the top states nationwide.

Is Security Guards in demand in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois has above-average concentration of Security Guards jobs (LQ: 2.14). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Security Guards in Illinois?

The average (mean) salary for Security Guards in Illinois is $44240/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 199,480 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in Illinois

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Illinois's largest cities.

Top Colleges in Illinois

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Illinois's leading institutions.

Security Guards Employment in Other States

Compare Security Guards labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Security Guards & Illinois Resources

Drill deeper into Security Guards pay, hiring, and education data for Illinois.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Security Guards (SOC 339032) in Illinois.

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