Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in North Carolina is $35,010/year ($16.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $37,783 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 52.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in North Carolina?
About security guards
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Security guards pay in North Carolina 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 $1,284/month, which is 53.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $43K | +23% | 710 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $39K | +10% | 1,570 |
| Wilmington | $37K | +6% | 960 |
| Asheville | $37K | +5% | 700 |
| Rocky Mount | $37K | +5% | 120 |
| Greenville | $37K | +5% | 220 |
| Winston-Salem | $36K | +3% | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $35K | +0% | 12,020 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $35K | -1% | 4,780 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $33K | -5% | 2,820 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $32K | -7% | 280 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $32K | -9% | 550 |
| Burlington | $31K | -10% | 160 |
| Goldsboro | $31K | -11% | 170 |
| Jacksonville | $31K | -12% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 53.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,756/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for security guards?
North Carolina pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do security guards make in North Carolina?
The median is $35,010 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,260, and experienced security guards can clear $56,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,383/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 53.9% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $37,783 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.