Security Guard salary in Virginia
Security Guards in Virginia earn a median of $43,640 a year ($20.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,060 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $38,020. Virginia ranks 10th of 51 states for security guards pay. There are 8.5 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,990 | $14.90 |
| 25th percentile | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Median | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| 75th percentile | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,060 | $35.12 |
| Average (mean) | $47,070 | $22.63 |
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 | $3,636.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,818.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,678.46 |
| Weekly | $839.23 |
| Hourly | $20.98 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | 570 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,830 | 40,950 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $42,170 | 340 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $41,950 | 170 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,230 | 7,470 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,160 | 200 |
| Richmond, VA | $36,960 | 4,630 |
| Roanoke, VA | $36,900 | 1,300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $36,780 | 400 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,270 | 500 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| School Bus Monitor | $36,510 | $17.56 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Animal Control Worker | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $41,980 | $20.19 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,140 | $24.11 |
| Firefighter | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $97,780 | $47.01 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $112,760 | $54.21 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for security guards in Virginia is $43,640 a year, or $20.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Virginia?
The top 10% of security guards in Virginia earn at least $73,060 a year. The top 25% earn $54,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,990 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $35,990 or less.
How many security guards work in Virginia?
About 34,870 security guards are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.