Security Guard salary in Charlottesville, VA
Security Guards in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median of $42,170 a year ($20.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,190 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 3% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $43,640. There are 3.0 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $45,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Charlottesville, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| 25th percentile | $36,690 | $17.64 |
| Median | $42,170 | $20.28 |
| 75th percentile | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,190 | $34.23 |
| Average (mean) | $45,300 | $21.78 |
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 | $3,514.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,757.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,621.92 |
| Weekly | $810.96 |
| Hourly | $20.28 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | 570 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $41,950 | 170 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,230 | 7,470 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,160 | 200 |
| Richmond, VA | $36,960 | 4,630 |
| Roanoke, VA | $36,900 | 1,300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,780 | 400 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,270 | 500 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlottesville, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,880 | $29.27 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Firefighter | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $94,220 | $45.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $63,600 | $30.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $69,680 | $33.50 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,160 | $44.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Charlottesville, VA
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 Charlottesville, VA?
The median salary for security guards in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $42,170 a year, or $20.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Charlottesville, VA?
The top 10% of security guards in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn at least $71,190 a year. The top 25% earn $50,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Charlottesville, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,770 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $36,690 or less.
How many security guards work in Charlottesville, VA?
About 340 security guards are employed in the Charlottesville, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.