How much does a security make?
The median security in the United States earns $78,660 per year, about $37.82 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all securities earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-3031.
Security salary range
Pay for securities spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,040 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $212,880. The average (mean) wage of $109,150 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,040 | $23.10 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $56,540 | $27.18 | |
| Median (50th) | $78,660 | $37.82 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $129,950 | $62.48 | |
| 90th percentile | $212,880 | $102.35 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents (SOC 41-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Security salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Securities earn the most in New York at $168,340 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $46,680. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $168,340 | 55,630 |
| Massachusetts | $100,310 | 14,510 |
| Illinois | $99,840 | 27,920 |
| Connecticut | $98,560 | 5,730 |
| Vermont | $88,280 | 240 |
| South Dakota | $86,780 | 730 |
| Delaware | $83,750 | 2,300 |
| Minnesota | $83,350 | 8,820 |
| Nebraska | $82,560 | 2,150 |
| New Jersey | $82,420 | 15,230 |
| California | $79,730 | 55,860 |
| New Hampshire | $78,930 | 1,530 |
| Missouri | $78,500 | 8,770 |
| Texas | $78,470 | 41,640 |
| Oregon | $76,710 | 2,900 |
| Alaska | $76,360 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $76,080 | 2,310 |
| Kansas | $75,810 | 2,310 |
| Washington | $75,510 | 8,770 |
| Arizona | $74,840 | 14,600 |
| North Carolina | $74,040 | 21,890 |
| Wisconsin | $74,010 | 5,980 |
| Michigan | $73,480 | 7,160 |
| Ohio | $73,300 | 13,520 |
| District of Columbia | $72,010 | 1,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,840 | 15,510 |
| Indiana | $68,290 | 6,460 |
| Colorado | $67,010 | 12,360 |
| Utah | $64,660 | 4,520 |
| Idaho | $64,620 | 1,690 |
| Iowa | $64,290 | 2,300 |
| North Dakota | $63,670 | 740 |
| Virginia | $62,910 | 11,320 |
| Florida | $62,770 | 42,600 |
| Maryland | $61,660 | 8,420 |
| Nevada | $61,490 | 3,140 |
| New Mexico | $60,850 | 1,690 |
| Georgia | $59,990 | 14,950 |
| Maine | $59,970 | 690 |
| Kentucky | $59,110 | 5,340 |
| Tennessee | $58,050 | 11,370 |
| Hawaii | $57,590 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $55,390 | 7,230 |
| Arkansas | $54,660 | 2,330 |
| West Virginia | $50,050 | 930 |
| Alabama | $49,230 | 4,710 |
| Louisiana | $48,040 | 4,130 |
| Mississippi | $46,680 | 1,950 |
State median wages for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents (SOC 41-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for securities
The BLS projects employment of securities to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 531,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 538,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 35,100 openings a year for securities. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a security
The typical entry-level education for securities is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a security earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $168,340) and the lowest (Mississippi, $46,680) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 489,570 people work as securities in the United States. At $78,660 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Security salary FAQ
How much does a security make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a security is $37.82. The middle half of securities earn between $27.18 and $62.48 per hour.
What is the highest security salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of securities earn more than $212,880 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a security make a year?
The median annual salary for a security is $78,660. The average (mean) wage of $109,150 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a security a well paid job?
At $78,660 a year, a security earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 489,570 people work as securities in the United States.
Which state pays securities the most?
New York has the highest median salary for securities at $168,340 a year. Massachusetts ($100,310) and Illinois ($99,840) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a security a good career?
Employment of securities is projected to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 35,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a security?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for securities as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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