Security Guard salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Security Guards in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $38,530 a year ($18.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,110 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 10% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,010. There are 4.6 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $40,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| 25th percentile | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Median | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| 75th percentile | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| Average (mean) | $40,650 | $19.54 |
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 | $3,210.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,605.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,481.92 |
| Weekly | $740.96 |
| Hourly | $18.53 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | 710 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,230 | 7,470 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,960 | 960 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,820 | 700 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $36,810 | 120 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,730 | 220 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,040 | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $35,010 | 12,020 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $34,680 | 4,780 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $33,430 | 2,820 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $32,480 | 280 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,860 | 550 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,370 | 160 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $31,070 | 170 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $30,730 | 110 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,280 | $13.11 |
| School Bus Monitor | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $53,610 | $25.77 |
| Firefighter | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $59,520 | $28.61 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,450 | $24.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $75,470 | $36.28 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for security guards in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $38,530 a year, or $18.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of security guards in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $59,110 a year. The top 25% earn $44,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,450 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $30,160 or less.
How many security guards work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,570 security guards are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.