Security Guards on the State Payroll

Average annual wages for security guards on the state payroll in 2008 equaled $39,012, while the average annual wages for all security workers in Illinois came to $25,940.

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in 2008, there were 105 security guards (not including supervisors) on the payroll of various state agencies. The average annual wages for these security guards equaled $39,012. The Department of Central Management Services had the highest average annual wages with $62,966, but also had the fewest number of security guards. The payroll for the Secretary of State had the largest number of security guards with 69 and had average annual wages of $45,940. The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and the Department of Revenue had significantly lower wage averages, but these agencies had a considerable proportion of employees (7 out of 14 at the Department of Revenue and 3 out of 16 at the Math and Science Academy) with total annual wages of less than $300. Perhaps these employees were hired at the very end of the year or were contractual workers hired for a specific event.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ wage data from 2008 estimates that the average annual wages of security guards in Illinois equaled $25,940. At $39,012, the average for state security guards is more than 50% higher than the average for all security guards in Illinois.

To find this information on the IllinoisOpenGov website, go to “Payroll” and enter “security guard” in the “Position” field.