Security Guards pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,440 or more. The middle half of security guards in Chattanooga earn between $30,030 and $42,560.
- $27K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $43K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,910 | $3,242 | $18.71 |
| Median | $35,650 | $2,971 | $17.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,030 | $2,502 | $14.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,560 | $3,547 | $20.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Security guards in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($38,500) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $38,910 | $35,650 | $26,980 | $63,440 | 1,820 |
| Tennessee | $38,500 | $36,000 | $29,310 | $51,680 | 27,690 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $38,910, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $33,444 a year, or $2,787 a month and $1,286 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $33,444 | $2,787 |
| Working in GA | $32,251 | $2,688 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $38,910 buys what about $42,541 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($40,010).
- Nashville$40,010
- Knoxville$39,730
- Clarksville$39,480
- Chattanooga$38,910
- Kingsport$38,870
- Jackson$36,850
- Cleveland$36,660
- Memphis$36,570
- Morristown$34,170
- Johnson City$31,360
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Chattanooga?
$18.71 an hour on average, and $17.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $33,444 a year ($2,787 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,910. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do security guards earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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