Security Guards pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,450 or more. The middle half of security guards in Wilmington earn between $30,500 and $50,210.
- $30K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $50K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,750 | $3,562 | $20.55 |
| Median | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,500 | $2,542 | $14.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,210 | $4,184 | $24.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Security guards in Wilmington earn 9% more than the North Carolina average ($39,090) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $42,750 | $36,960 | $29,700 | $64,450 | 960 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $42,750, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $35,333 a year, or $2,944 a month and $1,359 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).
Is Wilmington a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $42,750 buys what about $44,336 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 2nd 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Wilmington?
$20.55 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $35,333 a year ($2,944 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,750.
Do security guards earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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