Security Guard salary in Clarksville, TN-KY
Security Guards in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn a median of $35,900 a year ($17.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,280 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $36,000. There are 3.3 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $39,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| 25th percentile | $30,130 | $14.48 |
| Median | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 75th percentile | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Average (mean) | $39,480 | $18.98 |
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 | $2,991.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,495.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,380.77 |
| Weekly | $690.38 |
| Hourly | $17.26 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,010 | 10,710 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,420 | 5,000 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $36,370 | 170 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,270 | 500 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,110 | 7,970 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,960 | 460 |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,810 | 2,860 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,650 | 1,820 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,400 | 2,560 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $35,100 | 8,450 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 700 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,720 | 390 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $34,450 | 140 |
| Owensboro, KY | $31,440 | 560 |
| Morristown, TN | $30,790 | 70 |
| Cleveland, TN | $30,680 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,720 | 570 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $27,960 | $13.44 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| Firefighter | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $74,340 | $35.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $76,650 | $36.85 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Bailiff | $36,520 | $17.56 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Clarksville, TN-KY
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 Clarksville, TN-KY?
The median salary for security guards in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area is $35,900 a year, or $17.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The top 10% of security guards in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn at least $53,280 a year. The top 25% earn $46,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Clarksville, TN-KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,930 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $30,130 or less.
How many security guards work in Clarksville, TN-KY?
About 340 security guards are employed in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.