Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Security Guards actually take home in Pennsylvania?
3.1% flat rate — 17.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Security Guards earning $37,050 in Pennsylvania (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $37,050 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,462 | 6.6% |
| Pennsylvania State Income Tax | -$1,137 | 3.1% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,297 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$537 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$6,433 | 17.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $30,616 | 82.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Security Guards in Pennsylvania.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $30,050 | -$4,843 | $25,206 | 16.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,570 | -$5,870 | $28,699 | 17.0% |
| Median (P50) | $37,050 | -$6,433 | $30,616 | 17.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,300 | -$8,080 | $36,219 | 18.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $54,830 | -$10,473 | $44,356 | 19.1% |
After federal income tax ($2,462), state tax ($1,137), and FICA ($2,834), a Security Guards in Pennsylvania takes home $30,616 per year — or $2,551 per month. The effective tax rate of 17.4% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Security Guards in Pennsylvania faces an effective total tax rate of only 17.4%, keeping 82.6% of every gross dollar. That leaves $30,616 net out of $37,050 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Pennsylvania applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Security Guards salary that contributes $1,137 to the 3.1% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Security Guards salary is $2,462 (38%), but combined state ($1,137, 18%) + FICA ($2,834, 44%) make up the other 62% of the bill.
A Security Guards earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $31,754 — only $1,137 (3.7%) more than in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania ranks #32 of 51 states for Security Guards after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $30,616 net/year works out to $2,551/month or $1,178/bi-weekly for this Security Guards in Pennsylvania — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Security Guards keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Pennsylvania ranks #32 out of 51 states for Security Guards after-tax take-home pay.
A Security Guards in Pennsylvania earning a median salary of $37,050 will take home approximately $30,616 per year after federal income tax ($2,462), state income tax ($1,137), and FICA ($2,834). That is $2,551 per month or $1,177 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Security Guards in Pennsylvania is 17.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.6%, Pennsylvania state tax 3.1%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Pennsylvania has a 3.1% flat rate. On a Security Guards's median salary of $37,050, the state income tax amounts to $1,137 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.1%.
After all taxes, a Security Guards in Pennsylvania takes home approximately $2,551 per month, or about $14.72 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $37,050 for Security Guards in Pennsylvania, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Pennsylvania state income tax (3.1% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $30,616/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR