Security Guard Salary in South East
Official ONS earnings for South East, covering 11,000 jobs.
Median salary — South East
£33,453
gross, per year, all employees
▼ 1.7% change on the previous year
Mean
£30,723
Jobs measured
11,000
What a typical security guard takes home
On the median of £33,453, 2026/27 tax year, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates, no pension or student loan.
Take-home a month
£2,300
Take-home a year
£27,606
Income Tax
£4,177
National Insurance
£1,671
What most security guards actually earn
Half of security guards in South East earn between £3,012 and £33,262. Earning above £33,262 puts you in the top quarter of the profession.
ONS suppresses the detailed spread for this occupation at regional level, so this range describes the wider “Elementary Security Occupations” group in South East.
The full pay range
Each bar is the salary at that percentile — the 25th means a quarter of security guards earn less than this.
How South East ranks for security guard pay
2nd
of 7 GB regions with a published figure
London tops the table on £34,763 and East Midlands sits at the bottom on £29,891. South East is £1,310 short of the top.
Ranking compares published regional medians for the same occupation. It says nothing about cost of living — a higher median doesn't survive contact with rent. The cost of living calculator is the honest next step.
Security Guard jobs hiring now in South East
Live adverts. Salaries are shown only where the employer states one.
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Security Guard
Its Building People · Southampton, Hampshire
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Security Guard£27,040–£28,080
Mango Solutions Recruitment Group Ltd · Wendlebury, Bicester
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CCTV Operator / Security Guard
ABM UK · Oxford, Oxfordshire
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Opportunities At TCS - Security Guard
Serco · Oakhanger, Bordon
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SIA Security Guards (Windsor Illuminated)£27,040
Key Recruitment Limited · Englefield Green, Egham
Where this figure comes from
- ONS occupation group
- Security guards and related occupations
- SOC 2020 code
- 9231
- Measure
- Gross annual pay, all employees
- Edition
- ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2026 provisional
ONS doesn't measure “security guard” as its own category. These figures are for the wider group “Security guards and related occupations”, which includes this role alongside others. ONS group covers security guards and related occupations.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are estimates from a survey of PAYE jobs and are not financial advice.
Security Guard salary FAQs
What is the average Security Guard salary in South East?
The median is £33,453 a year and the mean is £30,723, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Those cover all employees; ASHE publishes no full-time split at regional level.
How much does a security guard earn per hour?
Across the UK the median hourly rate is £14.72 excluding overtime, or £15.25 for full-time employees. ASHE publishes hourly pay by occupation nationally only, so there is no separate rate for South East.
What is a good Security Guard salary?
Half of security guards earn between £3,012 and £33,262. Anything above £33,262 is in the top quarter for the role.
What is the starting salary for a security guard?
ASHE does not record experience, so there is no official starting salary. What it does show is that the lowest-paid 10% of security guards earn under £1,421 and the lowest quarter under £3,012 — the range a new entrant is most likely to be offered.
Do security guards in South East earn more than the UK average?
The median in South East is £33,453 against £31,883 across the UK, 4.9% higher, which places it 2nd highest of the 7 GB regions with a precise estimate.
Has security guard pay gone up in the last year?
ASHE puts the year-on-year change in the median at -1.7% for this occupation in South East. That compares the latest survey with the one before it and is not adjusted for inflation.
How many security guards are there in South East?
ASHE counts around 11,000 employee jobs in “Security guards and related occupations” (SOC 9231) in South East. Self-employed work is not included.
Is this figure official?
Yes. It comes from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, an accredited official statistic based on employer PAYE records.
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