Average Security Guard Salary in Mexico for 2026
A security guard in Mexico earns about 116,540 MXN a year. That's 71% below the national average of 398,300 MXN.
Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in Mexico sit around 56,140 MXN a year, while the very top stretches to 181,600 MXN. Everything on this page is in Mexican peso (MXN, symbol $), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.
The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in Mexico, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.
How much does a security guard make in Mexico?
A typical security guard working in Mexico brings home around 9,711 MXN a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 56,140 MXN, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 181,600 MXN for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.
The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior security guard working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around.
How security guard pay ranges in Mexico
A good way to think about salary in Mexico is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all security guards in Mexico earn less than 119,700 MXN a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".
Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 79,260 MXN (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 158,700 MXN (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of security guards sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.
The very lowest reported salaries sit around 56,140 MXN. The highest stretch to 181,600 MXN, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.
Security guard pay by experience in Mexico
Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a security guard in Mexico, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical security guard salary changes as you move through the career ladder.
- 0-2 Years63,400 MXN
- 2-5 Years+43% from previous90,620 MXN
- 5-10 Years+32% from previous119,900 MXN
- 10-15 Years+25% from previous150,000 MXN
- 15-20 Years+6% from previous159,100 MXN
- 20+ Years+8% from previous172,400 MXN
The single largest jump on the ladder is from 0 - 2 Years to 2 - 5 Years, where pay rises by about 43%. That is the point at which a security guard typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.
Security guard pay by education in Mexico
Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving security guard pay in Mexico. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.
Below is the average security guard salary in Mexico broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.
- High School88,580 MXN
- Certificate or Diploma+71% from previous151,800 MXN
Security guard gender pay gap in Mexico
The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and Mexico is no exception. Male security guards in Mexico earn an average of 119,900 MXN a year, while female security guards earn around 111,240 MXN. That works out to a 8% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.
A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.
Security Guard gender pay gap
7%
Men earn this much more than women on average in Mexico.
Pay raises for a security guard in Mexico
Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.
A typical worker doing this role in Mexico sees a raise of about 8% every 19 months, which works out to roughly 5% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.
Across all jobs in Mexico, the national average raise is around 8% every 18 months.
By industry
Industries with the highest pay raises in Mexico:
- Banking
- Energy
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Travel2%
- Construction
- Education1%
By experience level
Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.
- Junior Level3% - 5%
- Mid-Career
- Senior Level
- Top Management
Security guard bonus rates in Mexico
Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.
30% of security guards in Mexico reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a security guard a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.
Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary. The remaining 70% of security guards reported no bonus at all over the same period.
Which careers pay bonuses in Mexico
Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.
- Finance
- Architecture
- Sales
- Business Development
- Marketing / Advertising
- Information Technology
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Customer Service
- Human Resources
- Construction
- Transport
- Hospitality
Security guard: public vs private sector pay
Public-sector pay in Mexico is about 8% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.
Public vs private pay gap
8%
Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in Mexico on average.
Security guard salary by city in Mexico
Security guard pay is not even across Mexico. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities in the dataset, followed by the full location table.
- Chihuahua
- Zapopan
- Naucalpan
- Leon
- Culiacan
- Nezahualcoyotl
- Puebla
- Tijuana
- Monterrey
- Ecatepec de Morelos
| Location | Type | Average | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | City | 158,700 MXN | 159,500 MXN | 78,960-246,200 MXN |
| Zapopan | City | 157,600 MXN | 161,600 MXN | 75,500-246,200 MXN |
| Naucalpan | City | 154,700 MXN | 148,300 MXN | 80,500-233,900 MXN |
| Leon | City | 154,700 MXN | 163,800 MXN | 72,260-245,300 MXN |
| Culiacan | City | 154,700 MXN | 154,700 MXN | 76,280-239,000 MXN |
| Nezahualcoyotl | City | 152,300 MXN | 148,300 MXN | 80,340-233,900 MXN |
| Puebla | City | 152,100 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 80,520-228,000 MXN |
| Tijuana | City | 152,100 MXN | 152,100 MXN | 73,820-233,900 MXN |
| Monterrey | City | 152,000 MXN | 151,800 MXN | 79,280-233,900 MXN |
| Ecatepec de Morelos | City | 151,800 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 77,860-227,600 MXN |
| Guadalajara | City | 151,800 MXN | 152,300 MXN | 74,060-233,600 MXN |
| Queretaro | City | 150,000 MXN | 159,400 MXN | 68,360-233,900 MXN |
| Saltillo | City | 150,000 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 78,620-225,300 MXN |
| Mexico City | City | 150,000 MXN | 154,700 MXN | 70,700-233,600 MXN |
| Hermosillo | City | 148,300 MXN | 152,300 MXN | 72,180-232,900 MXN |
| Torreon | City | 148,300 MXN | 146,200 MXN | 77,400-227,600 MXN |
| Acapulco | City | 148,300 MXN | 151,800 MXN | 72,420-228,000 MXN |
| Aguascalientes | City | 148,300 MXN | 154,700 MXN | 66,840-231,000 MXN |
| Morelia | City | 146,200 MXN | 134,600 MXN | 77,120-217,900 MXN |
| Mexicali | City | 146,200 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 77,060-222,300 MXN |
| Durango | City | 143,200 MXN | 152,100 MXN | 66,680-225,300 MXN |
| Merida | City | 142,300 MXN | 128,500 MXN | 77,620-212,500 MXN |
| San Luis Potosi | City | 142,300 MXN | 152,000 MXN | 65,940-225,700 MXN |
| Matamoros | City | 142,300 MXN | 148,300 MXN | 67,300-222,300 MXN |
| Cancun | City | 139,100 MXN | 134,600 MXN | 70,600-210,500 MXN |
| Chimalhuacan | City | 139,100 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 65,080-216,800 MXN |
| Tlalnepantla de Baz | City | 138,800 MXN | 139,100 MXN | 72,120-215,100 MXN |
| Toluca | City | 138,200 MXN | 137,400 MXN | 69,240-214,000 MXN |
| Veracruz | City | 138,200 MXN | 134,600 MXN | 70,840-210,500 MXN |
| Guadalupe | City | 138,200 MXN | 138,200 MXN | 67,800-215,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Lopez Mateos | City | 138,200 MXN | 151,800 MXN | 63,480-222,300 MXN |
| Tuxtla Gutierrez | City | 137,400 MXN | 138,800 MXN | 67,900-212,500 MXN |
| General Escobedo | City | 137,400 MXN | 137,400 MXN | 68,900-210,500 MXN |
| Reynosa | City | 137,400 MXN | 128,500 MXN | 74,540-208,600 MXN |
| Cuautitlan Izcalli | City | 137,400 MXN | 127,700 MXN | 72,540-207,700 MXN |
| San Nicolas de los Garza | City | 136,200 MXN | 136,200 MXN | 66,120-209,500 MXN |
| Tlaquepaque | City | 136,100 MXN | 142,300 MXN | 63,500-209,500 MXN |
| Tepic | City | 134,600 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 70,600-201,100 MXN |
| Xico | City | 130,400 MXN | 137,400 MXN | 63,320-207,800 MXN |
| Irapuato | City | 130,400 MXN | 128,500 MXN | 67,900-204,700 MXN |
| Celaya | City | 130,400 MXN | 124,400 MXN | 71,700-201,100 MXN |
| Xalapa | City | 129,000 MXN | 128,900 MXN | 63,320-200,000 MXN |
| Mazatlan | City | 129,000 MXN | 129,000 MXN | 66,020-197,600 MXN |
| Tonala | City | 129,000 MXN | 116,740 MXN | 69,780-194,600 MXN |
| Villahermosa | City | 128,900 MXN | 139,100 MXN | 60,920-207,800 MXN |
| Tampico | City | 128,500 MXN | 130,400 MXN | 64,300-204,700 MXN |
| Nuevo Laredo | City | 128,500 MXN | 138,800 MXN | 59,940-207,800 MXN |
| Ciudad Apodaca | City | 128,500 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 69,580-197,600 MXN |
| Cuernavaca | City | 128,500 MXN | 125,100 MXN | 67,900-197,600 MXN |
| Villa Nicolas Romero | City | 127,700 MXN | 127,700 MXN | 61,580-196,800 MXN |
| Gomez Palacio | City | 127,700 MXN | 136,200 MXN | 57,320-197,600 MXN |
| Ensenada | City | 125,100 MXN | 115,740 MXN | 67,560-189,300 MXN |
| Tehuacan | City | 125,100 MXN | 128,900 MXN | 59,000-196,800 MXN |
| Ciudad Santa Catarina | City | 125,100 MXN | 127,700 MXN | 60,020-191,600 MXN |
| Ciudad Obregon | City | 124,400 MXN | 117,600 MXN | 64,180-192,000 MXN |
| Uruapan | City | 124,400 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 64,560-191,600 MXN |
| Ciudad Victoria | City | 123,400 MXN | 128,500 MXN | 59,380-191,600 MXN |
| La Paz | City | 120,880 MXN | 124,400 MXN | 57,800-189,300 MXN |
| Oaxaca | City | 119,900 MXN | 112,280 MXN | 64,200-183,700 MXN |
| Ixtapaluca | City | 119,900 MXN | 128,900 MXN | 54,500-191,600 MXN |
| Coacalco | City | 119,700 MXN | 119,320 MXN | 62,100-185,100 MXN |
| Los Mochis | City | 118,800 MXN | 111,920 MXN | 64,040-180,500 MXN |
| Pachuca | City | 117,520 MXN | 125,100 MXN | 56,460-187,500 MXN |
| Nogales | City | 116,420 MXN | 111,240 MXN | 61,400-176,800 MXN |
| Soledad de Graciano Sanchez | City | 116,180 MXN | 118,380 MXN | 56,460-180,500 MXN |
| Buenavista | City | 115,560 MXN | 123,400 MXN | 50,620-181,600 MXN |
| Campeche | City | 115,260 MXN | 105,620 MXN | 63,380-172,400 MXN |
| Los Reyes la Paz | City | 115,260 MXN | 119,900 MXN | 54,280-183,600 MXN |
| Puerto Vallarta | City | 115,220 MXN | 108,340 MXN | 61,840-175,900 MXN |
| Monclova | City | 114,900 MXN | 114,900 MXN | 57,900-176,800 MXN |
| Acuna | City | 114,900 MXN | 116,180 MXN | 55,320-175,900 MXN |
| Poza Rica | City | 113,840 MXN | 115,620 MXN | 55,320-175,900 MXN |
| Ojo de Agua | City | 113,560 MXN | 113,280 MXN | 60,480-175,900 MXN |
| San Cristobal de las Casas | City | 113,220 MXN | 113,220 MXN | 57,320-174,000 MXN |
| Tapachula | City | 112,760 MXN | 119,700 MXN | 53,660-180,300 MXN |
| Coatzacoalcos | City | 112,420 MXN | 107,380 MXN | 59,480-172,200 MXN |
| Cholula de Rivadabia | City | 111,920 MXN | 110,340 MXN | 58,440-172,200 MXN |
| Metepec | City | 111,240 MXN | 117,600 MXN | 50,980-176,800 MXN |
| Chilpancingo | City | 109,000 MXN | 109,000 MXN | 54,140-168,100 MXN |
| Salamanca | City | 107,960 MXN | 98,120 MXN | 58,860-161,600 MXN |
| San Pablo de las Salinas | City | 107,880 MXN | 104,060 MXN | 55,820-167,100 MXN |
| Piedras Negras | City | 107,320 MXN | 115,260 MXN | 48,940-172,200 MXN |
| Chalco | City | 106,820 MXN | 110,380 MXN | 53,380-169,000 MXN |
| Cuautla | City | 105,980 MXN | 97,840 MXN | 56,100-159,100 MXN |
| Jiutepec | City | 105,940 MXN | 112,460 MXN | 50,660-167,100 MXN |
| Ciudad del Carmen | City | 105,440 MXN | 113,220 MXN | 50,240-167,100 MXN |
| Ciudad Juarez | City | 104,500 MXN | 113,780 MXN | 48,160-164,200 MXN |
| Ciudad Valles | City | 102,720 MXN | 97,840 MXN | 53,660-157,600 MXN |
| San Juan del Rio | City | 102,460 MXN | 98,120 MXN | 50,560-158,700 MXN |
| Playa del Carmen | City | 101,980 MXN | 97,880 MXN | 52,820-158,700 MXN |
| Chicoloapan | City | 101,980 MXN | 93,600 MXN | 54,280-157,600 MXN |
| San Luis Rio Colorado | City | 101,920 MXN | 99,080 MXN | 50,520-154,700 MXN |
| Fresnillo | City | 101,840 MXN | 104,900 MXN | 48,740-158,700 MXN |
| Chetumal | City | 99,460 MXN | 107,680 MXN | 48,140-159,100 MXN |
| Colima | City | 98,960 MXN | 91,520 MXN | 53,160-152,000 MXN |
| Zacatecas | City | 98,000 MXN | 98,000 MXN | 48,640-152,100 MXN |
| Zamora de Hidalgo | City | 98,000 MXN | 90,620 MXN | 51,340-150,000 MXN |
| Boca del Rio | City | 97,460 MXN | 103,820 MXN | 46,040-157,600 MXN |
| Delicias | City | 96,540 MXN | 96,540 MXN | 45,720-148,300 MXN |
| Cordoba | City | 96,520 MXN | 93,780 MXN | 50,340-150,000 MXN |
| Orizaba | City | 95,980 MXN | 101,960 MXN | 47,540-154,700 MXN |
| San Pedro Garza Garcia | City | 95,420 MXN | 104,500 MXN | 45,580-152,000 MXN |
| Hidalgo del Parral | City | 93,340 MXN | 99,560 MXN | 45,060-148,300 MXN |
| Manzanillo | City | 93,340 MXN | 89,800 MXN | 48,300-143,200 MXN |
| Iguala | City | 93,100 MXN | 94,900 MXN | 46,840-142,300 MXN |
| Guaymas | City | 92,500 MXN | 92,400 MXN | 45,600-143,200 MXN |
| Navojoa | City | 91,580 MXN | 97,300 MXN | 43,480-146,200 MXN |
| Minatitlan | City | 89,340 MXN | 82,720 MXN | 50,580-137,400 MXN |
Security Guard in Mexico: FAQs
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How much does a security guard make per month in Mexico?
A security guard in Mexico earns about 9,711 MXN a month before tax, based on an annual average of 116,540 MXN.
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What's the salary range for a security guard in Mexico?
Entry-level security guards in Mexico start near 56,140 MXN. Top-end pay reaches around 181,600 MXN. The middle 50% of earners sit between 79,260 and 158,700 MXN.
-
Is the median security guard salary in Mexico higher or lower than the average?
The median is 119,700 MXN, higher than the average of 116,540 MXN. Half of security guards in Mexico earn below the median, half earn above it.
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What's the gender pay gap for security guards in Mexico?
Men working as a security guard in Mexico earn around 8% more than women on average (119,900 vs 111,240 MXN a year).
-
Do security guards in Mexico get bonuses?
About 30% of security guards in Mexico reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary.
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Do security guards earn more in the public or private sector in Mexico?
In Mexico, the public sector pays a security guard about 8% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.
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How often do security guards in Mexico get a pay raise?
A security guard in Mexico sees a raise of around 8% every 19 months, equivalent to roughly 5% a year.