Security Guards pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,340 or more. The middle half of security guards in Bowling Green earn between $31,710 and $39,360.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,440 | $3,287 | $18.96 |
| Median | $34,720 | $2,893 | $16.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,710 | $2,642 | $15.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,360 | $3,280 | $18.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Security guards in Bowling Green earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($38,540) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $39,440 | $34,720 | $30,520 | $47,340 | 390 |
| Kentucky | $38,540 | $35,420 | $28,450 | $50,800 | 13,580 |
| 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 Bowling Green
On the average salary of $39,440, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $31,818 a year, or $2,652 a month and $1,224 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $39,440 buys what about $43,735 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 3rd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Paducah pays the most ($48,080).
- Paducah$48,080
- Louisville$40,210
- Bowling Green$39,440
- Elizabethtown$37,550
- Lexington$37,490
- Owensboro$35,690
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 Bowling Green: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Bowling Green?
$18.96 an hour on average, and $16.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $31,818 a year ($2,652 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,440. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do security guards earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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