The average salary for a security guard in Tennessee is around $36,000 per year.
Avg Salary
Security guards earn an average yearly salary of $36,000.
Wages typically start from $29,310 and go up to $51,680.
42% below national average Updated in 2025
Security guard earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level security guard earnings begin at:
$24.84 per hour
$51,680 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$19.53 per hour
$40,620 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level security guard earnings begin at:
$17.31 per hour
$36,000 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level security guard earnings begin at:
$14.83 per hour
$30,850 per year
10th percentile
Starting level security guard earnings begin at:
$14.09 per hour
$29,310 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Security guard salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| Alaska | $47,480 |
| Washington | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $45,550 |
| Oregon | $45,500 |
| New Hampshire | $45,200 |
| Colorado | $45,150 |
| Massachusetts | $44,670 |
| New York | $44,240 |
| Virginia | $43,640 |
| Minnesota | $43,380 |
| New Mexico | $43,320 |
| California | $43,240 |
| Hawaii | $42,820 |
| Utah | $42,700 |
| Missouri | $40,390 |
| Connecticut | $39,920 |
| Nebraska | $39,840 |
| Illinois | $39,490 |
| North Dakota | $39,310 |
| Wyoming | $39,200 |
| Maine | $39,100 |
| New Jersey | $38,880 |
| Montana | $38,480 |
| Idaho | $38,300 |
| Arizona | $38,290 |
| Maryland | $38,220 |
| Wisconsin | $37,440 |
| Nevada | $37,310 |
| South Dakota | $37,150 |
| Iowa | $37,080 |
| Kansas | $37,080 |
| Michigan | $37,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,050 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 |
| Indiana | $36,490 |
| Delaware | $36,360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,270 |
| Tennessee | $36,000 |
| Texas | $35,980 |
| Florida | $35,900 |
| Arkansas | $35,770 |
| Ohio | $35,770 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 |
| Kentucky | $35,420 |
| North Carolina | $35,010 |
| Georgia | $34,980 |
| Alabama | $33,720 |
| Louisiana | $32,240 |
| Mississippi | $29,180 |
| West Virginia | $28,800 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $23,850 |
| Guam | $19,560 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,160 |
How do security guard salaries compare to similar careers?
Security guards earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than engravers but more than tellers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Engraver salary | $38K |
| Upholsterer salary | $38K |
| Office clerk salary | $39K |
| Courier salary | $40K |
| Bailiff salary | $36K |
| Security guard salary | $36K |
| Painting, coating & decorating worker salary | $36K |
| Hairdresser salary | $31K |
| Library assistant salary | $37K |
| Teller salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)