Security Guard salary in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Security Guards in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earn a median of $34,840 a year ($16.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,500 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 3% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $33,720. There are 4.4 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $33,950, close to the median.
Pay range for security guards in Auburn-Opelika, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,590 | $9.90 |
| 25th percentile | $27,800 | $13.36 |
| Median | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| 75th percentile | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,500 | $21.87 |
| Average (mean) | $33,950 | $16.32 |
Half of security guards earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,451.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,340 |
| Weekly | $670 |
| Hourly | $16.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Security Guard salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $38,500 | 450 |
| Huntsville, AL | $36,210 | 1,600 |
| Birmingham, AL | $33,820 | 5,660 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,630 | 1,170 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,590 | 530 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $31,240 | 750 |
| Montgomery, AL | $31,000 | 1,520 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $30,760 | 290 |
| Dothan, AL | $30,720 | 650 |
| Gadsden, AL | $30,040 | 110 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $29,720 | 1,150 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $29,400 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for security guards
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| Alaska | $47,480 |
| Washington | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $45,550 |
| Oregon | $45,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 |
| Colorado | $45,150 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 |
| New York | $44,240 |
| Virginia | $43,640 |
See Security Guard pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Auburn-Opelika, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Firefighter | $44,400 | $21.35 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $77,960 | $37.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $72,420 | $34.82 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Auburn-Opelika, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median salary for security guards in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area is $34,840 a year, or $16.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The top 10% of security guards in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area earn at least $45,500 a year. The top 25% earn $37,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,590 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $27,800 or less.
How many security guards work in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
About 320 security guards are employed in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.