Security Guard salary in Charleston, WV
Security Guards in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $20,800 a year ($10.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,060 for the top 10%. That is 45% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 28% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $28,800. There are 21 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| 25th percentile | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Median | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| 75th percentile | $33,260 | $15.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Average (mean) | $26,890 | $12.93 |
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 | $1,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $866.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $800 |
| Weekly | $400 |
| Hourly | $10.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | 260 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 700 |
| Morgantown, WV | $34,290 | 360 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,990 | 760 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $31,230 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,960 | 330 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,730 | 160 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $32,390 | $15.57 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,480 | $12.25 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $57,460 | $27.62 |
| Firefighter | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $77,780 | $37.39 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $92,410 | $44.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $47,680 | $22.92 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $49,100 | $23.61 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for security guards in the Charleston, WV metro area is $20,800 a year, or $10.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of security guards in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $37,060 a year. The top 25% earn $33,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,800 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $20,800 or less.
How many security guards work in Charleston, WV?
About 2,160 security guards are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.