Security Guard salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Security Guards in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $29,720 a year ($14.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,870 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 15% lower than the Georgia statewide median of $34,980. There are 9.9 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 25th percentile | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Median | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,870 | $25.90 |
| Average (mean) | $36,200 | $17.40 |
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 | $2,476.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,238.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,143.08 |
| Weekly | $571.54 |
| Hourly | $14.29 |
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 |
| Decatur, AL | $38,500 | 450 |
| Dalton, GA | $37,820 | 130 |
| Rome, GA | $36,430 | 140 |
| Huntsville, AL | $36,210 | 1,600 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,650 | 1,820 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,360 | 380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $35,150 | 22,730 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $34,840 | 320 |
| Savannah, GA | $34,810 | 1,880 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $34,530 | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $33,940 | 460 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,910 | 560 |
| Birmingham, AL | $33,820 | 5,660 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,630 | 1,170 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $33,620 | 260 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,450 | 3,370 |
| Valdosta, GA | $32,810 | 130 |
| 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 |
| Albany, GA | $29,700 | 770 |
| 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 Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,540 | $12.28 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| School Bus Monitor | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Firefighter | $48,770 | $23.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $68,350 | $32.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| Bailiff | $32,810 | $15.77 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-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 Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for security guards in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $29,720 a year, or $14.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of security guards in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $53,870 a year. The top 25% earn $37,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,680 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,190 or less.
How many security guards work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 1,150 security guards are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.