Security Guard salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Security Guards in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $36,370 a year ($17.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,710 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 3% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $35,420. There are 3.4 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $48,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $36,370 | $17.49 |
| 75th percentile | $62,190 | $29.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,710 | $41.69 |
| Average (mean) | $48,080 | $23.12 |
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 | $3,030.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,515.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,398.85 |
| Weekly | $699.42 |
| Hourly | $17.49 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,600 | 9,720 |
| Springfield, IL | $42,240 | 680 |
| Decatur, IL | $41,220 | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,990 | 48,360 |
| Peoria, IL | $38,530 | 540 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,960 | 760 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,800 | 1,040 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,630 | 140 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,420 | 5,000 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,110 | 7,970 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,900 | 340 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,520 | 470 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,400 | 2,560 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,380 | 310 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 700 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,720 | 390 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $34,450 | 140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,250 | 390 |
| Owensboro, KY | $31,440 | 560 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,740 | $35.93 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for security guards in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $36,370 a year, or $17.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of security guards in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $86,710 a year. The top 25% earn $62,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,430 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $31,200 or less.
How many security guards work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 170 security guards are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.