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Security Guards salary in Tennessee

Median: $36,000 / year · $17.31 / hr · 2025

5% below the U.S. average

Mean
$38,500
$18.51 / hr
Median hourly
$17.31 / hr
10th–90th percentile
$29,310 – $51,680
U.S. median
$38,020
Wage distribution (annual)
  • 10th percentile$29,310
  • Median$36,000
  • Mean$38,500
  • 90th percentile$51,680

U.S. median $38,020

Take-home estimate

$30,910

On a $36,000 OEWS median, single filer (2024). Not tax advice.

  • Federal income tax$2,336 (6.5%)
  • Social Security$2,232 (6.2%)
  • Medicare$522 (1.5%)
  • Net take-home$30,910 (85.9%)
  • Share of $36,000 gross (single filer). Not tax advice.

Open take-home calculator →

Living-cost context

$39,186

U.S.-average purchasing power of this median. Tennessee RPP is 91.9 (8% below the U.S. average).

Tennessee cost of living →

Related occupations in Tennessee

Firefighters $49,300 +$13,300 vs this job Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $59,280 +$23,280 vs this job

ZIP codes in Tennessee

37013Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)37042Clarksville city37211Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)37128Murfreesboro city37075Hendersonville city38401Columbia city37064Franklin city37122Mount Juliet city37167Smyrna town37066Gallatin city37040Clarksville city37027Brentwood city

All Tennessee ZIP codes →

Highest-paying states for Security Guards

Tennessee ranks #39 of 51 states and DC with a published OEWS median ($36,000).

Security Guards median salary by state
RankStateMedian
#1 Highest District of Columbia$64,210
#2Alaska$47,480
#3Washington$47,100
#4Vermont$45,550
#5Oregon$45,500
#6New Hampshire$45,200
#7Colorado$45,150
#8Massachusetts$44,670
#9New York$44,240
#10Virginia$43,640
#11Minnesota$43,380
#12New Mexico$43,320
#13California$43,240
#14Hawaii$42,820
#15Utah$42,700
#16Missouri$40,390
#17Connecticut$39,920
#18Nebraska$39,840
#19Illinois$39,490
#20North Dakota$39,310
#21Wyoming$39,200
#22Maine$39,100
#23New Jersey$38,880
#24Montana$38,480
#25Idaho$38,300
#26Arizona$38,290
#27Maryland$38,220
#28Wisconsin$37,440
#29Nevada$37,310
#30South Dakota$37,150
#31Iowa$37,080
#32Kansas$37,080
#33Michigan$37,080
#34Pennsylvania$37,050
#35Rhode Island$36,940
#36Indiana$36,490
#37Delaware$36,360
#38Oklahoma$36,270
#39Tennessee$36,000
#40Texas$35,980
#41Florida$35,900
#42Arkansas$35,770
#43Ohio$35,770
#44South Carolina$35,460
#45Kentucky$35,420
#46North Carolina$35,010
#47Georgia$34,980
#48Alabama$33,720
#49Louisiana$32,240
#50Mississippi$29,180
#51 Lowest West Virginia$28,800

Frequently asked questions

What is the median security guards salary in Tennessee?
The OEWS median is $36,000 per year ($17.31 / hr) (2025), 5% below the U.S. average.
How much does a security guards make per hour in Tennessee?
The OEWS hourly median is $17.31 / hr.
Is this take-home pay?
No. OEWS is pre-tax. A single-filer estimate on this median is about $30,910 after federal, state, and FICA. Use the take-home calculator to change the gross.
How does security guards pay compare nationally?
The Tennessee median is 5% below the U.S. average versus the U.S. OEWS median of $38,020.
Which states pay security guardss the most?
District of Columbia has the highest published OEWS median at $64,210. Tennessee ranks #39 of 51.
What is that salary worth after Tennessee living costs?
BEA all-items RPP is 91.9 (U.S. = 100), 8% below the U.S. average. $36,000 in Tennessee has about the same purchasing power as $39,186 at U.S. average prices.