Security Guard salary in Winchester, VA-WV
Security Guards in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn a median of $37,900 a year ($18.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,030 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 13% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $43,640. There are 3.8 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $40,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Winchester, VA-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,830 | $14.34 |
| 25th percentile | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Median | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 75th percentile | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Average (mean) | $40,420 | $19.44 |
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 | $3,158.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,579.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,457.69 |
| Weekly | $728.85 |
| Hourly | $18.22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $34,800 | 700 |
| Morgantown, WV | $34,290 | 360 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $33,990 | 760 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $31,230 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,960 | 330 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,730 | 160 |
| Charleston, WV | $20,800 | 2,160 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Winchester, VA-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $28,840 | $13.86 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $34,540 | $16.61 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,960 | $28.35 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $78,230 | $37.61 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Winchester, VA-WV
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 Winchester, VA-WV?
The median salary for security guards in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is $37,900 a year, or $18.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Winchester, VA-WV?
The top 10% of security guards in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area earn at least $48,030 a year. The top 25% earn $43,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Winchester, VA-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,830 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $33,550 or less.
How many security guards work in Winchester, VA-WV?
About 260 security guards are employed in the Winchester, VA-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.