Security Guards pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,410 or more. The middle half of security guards in Birmingham earn between $28,960 and $36,900.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,350 | $2,862 | $16.51 |
| Median | $33,820 | $2,818 | $16.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,960 | $2,413 | $13.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,900 | $3,075 | $17.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Security guards in Birmingham earn about the same as the Alabama average ($34,680) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $34,350 | $33,820 | $23,070 | $44,410 | 5,660 |
| Alabama | $34,680 | $33,720 | $23,110 | $45,640 | 15,210 |
| United States | $42,470 | $38,020 | $30,210 | $58,840 | 1,283,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $34,350, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $28,404 a year, or $2,367 a month and $1,092 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $34,350 buys what about $37,482 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 5th of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($45,680).
- Decatur$45,680
- Huntsville$39,160
- Anniston$35,750
- Dothan$35,120
- Birmingham$34,350
- Auburn$33,950
- Mobile$33,510
- Montgomery$33,320
- Florence$33,090
- Daphne$33,010
Highest-paying cities for security guards
Idaho Falls, ID pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($68,260).
- Idaho Falls, ID$68,260
- Fairbanks, AK$60,120
- Kennewick, WA$59,640
- Burlington, VT$55,360
- Anchorage, AK$54,540
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Security Guards salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Birmingham?
$16.51 an hour on average, and $16.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $28,404 a year ($2,367 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,350. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do security guards earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,470).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9032; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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