Security Guard salary in North Carolina
Security Guards in North Carolina earn a median of $35,010 a year ($16.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 29,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,020 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $38,020. North Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 6.0 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $39,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| 25th percentile | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Median | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| 75th percentile | $43,610 | $20.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,020 | $26.93 |
| Average (mean) | $39,090 | $18.79 |
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 | $2,917.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,458.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,346.54 |
| Weekly | $673.27 |
| Hourly | $16.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Security Guard salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | 710 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,530 | 1,570 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,310 | $13.13 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,730 | $16.21 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $52,890 | $25.43 |
| School Bus Monitor | $32,970 | $15.85 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $64,540 | $31.03 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Animal Control Worker | $43,940 | $21.12 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Firefighter | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $59,560 | $28.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $91,100 | $43.80 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $63,280 | $30.43 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $57,390 | $27.59 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for security guards in North Carolina is $35,010 a year, or $16.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of security guards in North Carolina earn at least $56,020 a year. The top 25% earn $43,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,260 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $30,640 or less.
How many security guards work in North Carolina?
About 29,830 security guards are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.