Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Kentucky is $35,420/year ($17.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $39,255 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 45.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in Kentucky?
About security guards
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kentucky
Security guards pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 45.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $36K | +3% | 5,000 |
| Paducah | $36K | +3% | 170 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $35K | -0% | 2,560 |
| Bowling Green | $35K | -2% | 390 |
| Elizabethtown | $34K | -3% | 140 |
| Owensboro | $31K | -11% | 560 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 45.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,707/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for security guards?
Kentucky pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Kentucky?
The median is $35,420 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,450, and experienced security guards can clear $50,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,423/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 45.8% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $39,255 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.