Security Guard salary in Winston-Salem, NC
Security Guards in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median of $36,040 a year ($17.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,290 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $38,020. Pay here is 3% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,010. There are 4.8 security guards per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $41,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for security guards in Winston-Salem, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| 25th percentile | $33,180 | $15.95 |
| Median | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| 75th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| Average (mean) | $41,090 | $19.76 |
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 | $3,003.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,501.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,386.15 |
| Weekly | $693.08 |
| Hourly | $17.33 |
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 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $36,810 | 120 |
| Greenville, NC | $36,730 | 220 |
| 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 Winston-Salem, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $26,300 | $12.64 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| Firefighter | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $78,130 | $37.56 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $50,800 | $24.42 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $63,950 | $30.75 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC?
The median salary for security guards in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $36,040 a year, or $17.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid security guards make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The top 10% of security guards in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn at least $62,290 a year. The top 25% earn $47,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for security guards in Winston-Salem, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,530 a year, and a quarter of security guards earn $33,180 or less.
How many security guards work in Winston-Salem, NC?
About 1,290 security guards are employed in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.