Security Guards pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,740 or more. The middle half of security guards in Charlotte earn between $33,110 and $42,940.
- $30K10th
- $33K25th
- $35KMedian
- $43K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,340 | $3,195 | $18.43 |
| Median | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,110 | $2,759 | $15.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,940 | $3,578 | $20.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Security guards in Charlotte earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($39,090) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $38,340 | $35,010 | $29,520 | $46,740 | 12,020 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 | $35,010 | $29,260 | $56,020 | 29,830 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $38,340, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $31,965 a year, or $2,664 a month and $1,229 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SC | $32,522 | $2,710 |
| Working in NC | $31,965 | $2,664 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $38,340 buys what about $39,384 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 10.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 9th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($43,580).
- Fayetteville$43,580
- Wilmington$42,750
- Greenville$42,040
- Winston-Salem$41,090
- Raleigh$40,750
- Rocky Mount$40,680
- Durham$40,650
- Asheville$39,820
- Charlotte$38,340
- Burlington$36,920
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Charlotte?
$18.43 an hour on average, and $16.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $31,965 a year ($2,664 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,340.
Do security guards earn more in Charlotte than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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