Security Guards Salary
The median pay for a security guards in Virginia is $43,640/year ($20.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $46,039 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 55.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Virginia?
About security guards
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for security guards, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 56.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level security guards (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Security Guards salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg | $49K | +13% | 570 |
| Charlottesville | $42K | -3% | 340 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $42K | -4% | 170 |
| Winchester | $38K | -13% | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $37K | -15% | 7,470 |
| Harrisonburg | $37K | -15% | 200 |
| Richmond | $37K | -15% | 4,630 |
| Roanoke | $37K | -15% | 1,300 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $37K | -16% | 400 |
Compare to other states
Track security guards salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a security guard afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 56.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security guards in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security guards typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,859/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $44K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for security guards?
Virginia pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security guards make in Virginia?
The median is $43,640 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,990, and experienced security guards can clear $73,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,926/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 56.3% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $46,039 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.