Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Tennessee is $36,000/year ($17.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $40,098 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Tennessee?
About security guards
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Security guards pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 47.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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, Tennessee
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $37K | +3% | 10,710 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $36K | +1% | 500 |
| Jackson | $36K | -0% | 460 |
| Clarksville | $36K | -0% | 340 |
| Knoxville | $36K | -1% | 2,860 |
| Chattanooga | $36K | -1% | 1,820 |
| Memphis | $35K | -3% | 8,450 |
| Morristown | $31K | -14% | 70 |
| Cleveland | $31K | -15% | 100 |
| Johnson City | $28K | -23% | 570 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 47.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,759/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for security guards?
Tennessee pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Tennessee?
The median is $36,000 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,310, and experienced security guards can clear $51,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,580/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 47.1% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $40,098 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.