Security Guard Salary in Portland, OR

Updated November 9, 2026

The median security guard in the Portland area earns $46,820 a year ($22.51 an hour), 23% above the U.S. median ($38,020) and 3% above the Oregon median ($45,500). Half of the 9,110 security guards there earn between $43,610 and $49,070.

Median $46,820

10th: $38,36090th: $60,020

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.

Security Guards, May 2025 (latest official data). Metro area: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
Annual pay	Portland area	Oregon	U.S.
10th percentile	$38,360	$36,500	$30,210
25th percentile	$43,610	$39,680	$35,210
Median	$46,820	$45,500	$38,020
75th percentile	$49,070	$48,420	$46,200
90th percentile	$60,020	$58,510	$58,840
Average	$47,960	$46,420	$42,470
Jobs	9,110	12,200	1,283,470

Portland, OR ranks 3rd of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for security guard pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,490).

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Security guard pay in other cities

Seattle, WA: $47,490
Washington, DC: $46,830
San Jose, CA: $46,250
San Francisco, CA: $45,730
Denver, CO: $45,420
Boston, MA: $44,990
New York, NY: $43,980
Minneapolis, MN: $43,430
All cities

Similar jobs in Portland, OR

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.