Security Guard salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Security Guards in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn a median of $36,810 a year ($17.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,880 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 5% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,010. There are 2.2 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.27). The average (mean) salary is $40,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Rocky Mount, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,410 | $13.66 |
| 25th percentile | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Median | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| 75th percentile | $50,910 | $24.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Average (mean) | $40,680 | $19.56 |
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 | $3,067.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,533.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,415.77 |
| Weekly | $707.88 |
| Hourly | $17.70 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Rocky Mount, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Bus Monitor | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Firefighter | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $86,420 | $41.55 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $67,970 | $32.68 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC?
The median salary for security guards in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area is $36,810 a year, or $17.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Rocky Mount, NC?
The top 10% of security guards in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn at least $59,880 a year. The top 25% earn $50,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Rocky Mount, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,410 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $29,590 or less.
How many security guards work in Rocky Mount, NC?
About 120 security guards are employed in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.