Security Guards pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,850 or more. The middle half of security guards in Lexington earn between $33,990 and $37,140.
- $28K10th
- $34K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 |
| Median | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,990 | $2,832 | $16.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,140 | $3,095 | $17.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Security guards in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($38,540) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $37,490 | $35,400 | $28,310 | $47,850 | 2,560 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $37,490, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $30,078 a year, or $2,506 a month and $1,157 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $37,490 buys what about $40,360 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 5th 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 Lexington: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Lexington?
$18.02 an hour on average, and $17.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Lexington?
About $30,078 a year ($2,506 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,490. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do security guards earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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