Security Guard Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Arkansas is $35,770/year ($17.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $40,815 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $36K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Security guards pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 41.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | $36K | +1% | 200 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $36K | +1% | 1,150 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $36K | +0% | 2,260 |
| Jonesboro | $35K | -3% | 250 |
| Fort Smith | $35K | -3% | 420 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 41.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,023/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is security guard a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for security guards?
Arkansas pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Arkansas?
The median is $35,770 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,870, and experienced security guards can clear $57,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,463/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 41.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a security guards salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security guards salary is worth about $40,815 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do security guards get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.