Security Guards salary · North Carolina
Security Guards Salary in North Carolina
Security Guards in North Carolina earn a median of $35,010 a year, which is $16.83 an hour. That is $3,010 below the national median of $38,020, a difference of 8 percent. The state employs 29,830.
North Carolina against the US May 2025
| Figure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $35,010 | $38,020 |
| Median hourly | $16.83 | $18.28 |
| Mean annual | $39,090 | $42,470 |
| 10th percentile | $29,260 | $30,210 |
| 90th percentile | $56,020 | $58,840 |
| Employment | 29,830 | 1,283,470 |
How North Carolina compares
By median pay, North Carolina ranks 11 of the 12 states this site reports for security guards. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for security guards May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $44,240 | $21.27 | 134,700 |
| Virginia | $43,640 | $20.98 | 34,870 |
| California | $43,240 | $20.79 | 199,480 |
| Illinois | $39,490 | $18.98 | 53,830 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 | $18.69 | 41,540 |
| Arizona | $38,290 | $18.41 | 29,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 | $17.81 | 43,610 |
| Texas | $35,980 | $17.30 | 106,210 |
| Florida | $35,900 | $17.26 | 95,370 |
| Ohio | $35,770 | $17.20 | 34,450 |
| Georgia | $34,980 | $16.82 | 36,210 |
Common questions
How much do security guards make in North Carolina?
The median salary for security guards in North Carolina is $35,010 a year, or $16.83 an hour. That is $3,010 below the national median of $38,020, a difference of 8 percent. North Carolina employs 29,830 of them.
Is North Carolina a good state to work as a security guard?
On pay alone, North Carolina ranks 11 of the 12 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for security guards in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $29,260 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $56,020 or more. The middle half falls between $30,640 and $43,610.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 33-9032 in North Carolina. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national security guards salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.