Security Guard salary in Wilmington, NC
Security Guards in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $36,960 a year ($17.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 960 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,450 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 6% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,010. There are 5.0 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $42,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| 25th percentile | $30,500 | $14.66 |
| Median | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 75th percentile | $50,210 | $24.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,450 | $30.99 |
| Average (mean) | $42,750 | $20.55 |
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 | $3,080 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,540 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,421.54 |
| Weekly | $710.77 |
| Hourly | $17.77 |
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 |
| 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 |
See Security Guard pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,070 | $13.01 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| Firefighter | $35,580 | $17.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $94,670 | $45.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $68,940 | $33.15 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $68,440 | $32.90 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for security guards in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $36,960 a year, or $17.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of security guards in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $64,450 a year. The top 25% earn $50,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,700 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $30,500 or less.
How many security guards work in Wilmington, NC?
About 960 security guards are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.