Hourly rates for licensed security work vary with license level, city, and shift type. The figures below come from two labeled sources: live GuardXchange listings with posted pay ranges, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 estimates for Security Guards, SOC 33-9032).
Texas DPS licenses security officers on a ladder: Non-Commissioned (Level II, unarmed), Commissioned (Level III, armed), and Personal Protection Officer (Level IV). Armed and personal-protection posts require more training and typically command higher rates than unarmed work.
Rates differ across Texas metros. BLS data shows Austin and Dallas–Fort Worth medians running above Houston and San Antonio, and demand shifts with local construction, events, and commercial activity.
Overnight coverage, weekend posts, high-risk sites, and short-notice event work are frequently posted at premium rates compared with standard daytime posts, because fewer licensed officers are available to fill them.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Security Guards (SOC 33-9032), Texas, May 2025 estimates. Live GuardXchange listing aggregates appear here once at least three Texas listings post hourly ranges.
Each city links to its live GuardXchange job feed. When at least three live listings post hourly ranges in a metro, we show the posted range; otherwise the figure is the metro's BLS median wage (May 2025).
$17.05/hr metro median (BLS, May 2025)
$17.63/hr metro median (BLS, May 2025)
$16.96/hr metro median (BLS, May 2025)
$18.23/hr metro median (BLS, May 2025)
$17.63/hr metro median (BLS, May 2025)
Texas DPS licenses security officers in tiers, and pay follows the ladder. Where enough live listings specify a track, we show the posted range from those listings.
The entry point for security work in Texas. Covers unarmed posts — access control, patrol, front desk, retail, and event security. Requires Level II training through a licensed school.
Authorizes armed work after Level III classroom and firearm training. Commissioned officers fill armed posts at banks, industrial sites, and high-value properties, which typically pay above unarmed rates.
The highest officer tier (Level IV), built on top of a commission. Covers executive protection and bodyguard assignments — specialized work that generally commands the highest rates on the ladder.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2025) reports a median wage of $17.30 per hour for security guards in Texas across all license levels, with the middle half of the field earning between $14.08 and $20.98 per hour. Unarmed (Non-Commissioned, Level II) roles are generally positioned toward the lower and middle part of that range. Where enough live GuardXchange listings exist, this page shows current posted rates for non-commissioned work.
BLS does not publish a separate armed-guard wage, but armed work in Texas requires a Commissioned Security Officer license (Level III), and commissioned posts are typically positioned in the upper part of the wage distribution. Statewide, the 75th and 90th percentiles for all security guards were $20.98 and $24.40 per hour (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Live GuardXchange listings for commissioned roles show current posted rates when enough listings are active.
Generally, yes. A Level III commission authorizes armed posts, which involve additional training, insurance, and responsibility — so vendors typically post them above unarmed rates. GuardXchange still matches applications by exact job type: Armed credentials apply to Armed posts, not Unarmed or PPO posts.
Security officers in Texas are licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program. Non-Commissioned (Level II) registration requires completing Level II training through a DPS-licensed school and passing a background check, and you must work for a licensed security company. Commissioned (Level III) status adds classroom and firearm proficiency training. Personal Protection Officer (Level IV) training builds on an active commission.
Among the large Texas metros, BLS OEWS (May 2025) reports median hourly wages of $18.23 in Austin, $17.63 in Dallas–Fort Worth, $17.05 in Houston, and $16.96 in San Antonio. Individual posts vary widely with license level and shift type, so city medians are a starting point rather than a ceiling.
Two labeled sources. Live figures are computed from active GuardXchange job listings with posted hourly ranges in Texas, and are only shown when at least three listings back a figure. Everything else is cited to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (Security Guards, SOC 33-9032, May 2025 estimates). No figures on this page are estimated from any other source.
Every listing on GuardXchange shows its pay range up front — no phone screens required to find out the rate.