Security Guard salary in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
Security Guards in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area earn a median of $34,800 a year ($16.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,180 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 21% higher than the West Virginia statewide median of $28,800. There are 5.0 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $35,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,700 | $12.84 |
| 25th percentile | $29,410 | $14.14 |
| Median | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| 75th percentile | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Average (mean) | $35,990 | $17.31 |
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 | $2,900 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,450 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,338.46 |
| Weekly | $669.23 |
| Hourly | $16.73 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | 260 |
| Springfield, OH | $37,540 | 160 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,510 | 2,040 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,420 | 5,000 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $36,370 | 170 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,110 | 7,970 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,900 | 340 |
| Cleveland, OH | $35,890 | 7,630 |
| Columbus, OH | $35,800 | 9,300 |
| Sandusky, OH | $35,710 | 230 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,400 | 2,560 |
| Akron, OH | $35,340 | 1,940 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,140 | 750 |
| Toledo, OH | $34,950 | 1,680 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,720 | 390 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $34,450 | 140 |
| Morgantown, WV | $34,290 | 360 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,990 | 760 |
| Mansfield, OH | $33,670 | 140 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,020 | 1,490 |
| Owensboro, KY | $31,440 | 560 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $31,230 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,960 | 330 |
| Lima, OH | $30,060 | 140 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,730 | 160 |
| Charleston, WV | $20,800 | 2,160 |
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 West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,390 | $24.23 |
| Firefighter | $36,060 | $17.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,710 | $35.92 |
| Bailiff | $29,940 | $14.39 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $56,710 | $27.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $56,380 | $27.10 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
The median salary for security guards in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area is $34,800 a year, or $16.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
The top 10% of security guards in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area earn at least $46,180 a year. The top 25% earn $38,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,700 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,410 or less.
How many security guards work in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH?
About 700 security guards are employed in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.