Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Georgia is $34,980/year ($16.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $38,067 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 60.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Security guards pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 60% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Georgia
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Georgia
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinesville | $49K | +39% | 120 |
| Dalton | $38K | +8% | 130 |
| Rome | $36K | +4% | 140 |
| Gainesville | $35K | +1% | 380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $35K | +0% | 22,730 |
| Savannah | $35K | -0% | 1,880 |
| Warner Robins | $35K | -1% | 190 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $34K | -3% | 460 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $34K | -3% | 560 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $34K | -4% | 260 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $33K | -4% | 3,370 |
| Valdosta | $33K | -6% | 130 |
| Columbus | $30K | -15% | 1,150 |
| Albany | $30K | -15% | 770 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 60% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,744/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for security guards?
Georgia pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Georgia?
The median is $34,980 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,060, and experienced security guards can clear $48,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,390/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 60% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $38,067 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.