Security Guards pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,930 or more. The middle half of security guards in Memphis earn between $30,360 and $36,880.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,570 | $3,048 | $17.58 |
| Median | $35,100 | $2,925 | $16.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,360 | $2,530 | $14.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,880 | $3,073 | $17.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Security guards in Memphis earn 5% less than the Tennessee average ($38,500) and 14% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $36,570 | $35,100 | $29,060 | $45,930 | 8,450 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $36,570, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $31,564 a year, or $2,630 a month and $1,214 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $31,564 | $2,630 |
| Working in MS | $30,833 | $2,569 |
| Working in AR | $30,698 | $2,558 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $36,570 buys what about $39,673 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 8th 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 Memphis: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Memphis?
$17.58 an hour on average, and $16.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Memphis?
About $31,564 a year ($2,630 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,570. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do security guards earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 1.67, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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