Security Guard salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Security Guards in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $34,530 a year ($16.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,630 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 3% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $35,770. There are 4.4 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $37,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,290 | $13.60 |
| 25th percentile | $29,270 | $14.07 |
| Median | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 75th percentile | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Average (mean) | $37,690 | $18.12 |
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 | $2,877.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,438.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,328.08 |
| Weekly | $664.04 |
| Hourly | $16.60 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $36,640 | 3,390 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $36,320 | 4,890 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $36,120 | 200 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $36,110 | 1,150 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,930 | 2,260 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $35,100 | 8,450 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $34,820 | 250 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $34,060 | 150 |
| Enid, OK | $33,280 | 60 |
| Lawton, OK | $33,280 | 410 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $51,070 | $24.55 |
| Firefighter | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $71,730 | $34.49 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $39,610 | $19.05 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for security guards in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $34,530 a year, or $16.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of security guards in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $57,630 a year. The top 25% earn $43,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,290 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,270 or less.
How many security guards work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 420 security guards are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.