Security Guard salary in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Security Guards in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn a median of $33,450 a year ($16.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,260 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 4% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $34,980. There are 15 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| 25th percentile | $29,960 | $14.40 |
| Median | $33,450 | $16.08 |
| 75th percentile | $39,010 | $18.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Average (mean) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
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 | $2,787.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,393.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,286.54 |
| Weekly | $643.27 |
| Hourly | $16.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hinesville, GA | $48,780 | 120 |
| Florence, SC | $39,060 | 610 |
| Dalton, GA | $37,820 | 130 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $36,810 | 680 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $36,620 | 2,190 |
| Rome, GA | $36,430 | 140 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,350 | 770 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $35,760 | 3,000 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,650 | 1,820 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,360 | 380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $35,150 | 22,730 |
| Columbia, SC | $35,140 | 5,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $35,010 | 12,020 |
| Savannah, GA | $34,810 | 1,880 |
| Sumter, SC | $34,660 | 90 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $34,530 | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $33,940 | 460 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,910 | 560 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,620 | 260 |
| Valdosta, GA | $32,810 | 130 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,480 | 1,020 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $29,720 | 1,150 |
| Albany, GA | $29,700 | 770 |
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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $20,190 | $9.71 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $23,470 | $11.29 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,700 | $13.32 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $53,390 | $25.67 |
| Firefighter | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,580 | $35.86 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $82,740 | $39.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $61,530 | $29.58 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
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 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The median salary for security guards in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is $33,450 a year, or $16.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The top 10% of security guards in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area earn at least $47,260 a year. The top 25% earn $39,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,360 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,960 or less.
How many security guards work in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About 3,370 security guards are employed in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.