Salary comparison
Security Guards: Lynchburg vs Salem
Lynchburg, VA pays about 7.2% more for security guards on paper — $49,480 vs $46,150. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Lynchburg comes out ahead by $3,330 a year in real buying power.
Lynchburg, VA
$49,480
$36,090
$74,550
$23.79
100
$49,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Salem, OR
$46,150
$39,480
$55,450
$22.19
100
$46,150/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,330 a year (7.2%) in favor of Lynchburg. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Lynchburg runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Salem sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Lynchburg is the better deal by $3,330 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Salem to Lynchburg for this role, the raise needs to beat 7.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do security guards earn more, Lynchburg or Salem?
Lynchburg pays $49,480 on median — about 7.2% more than Salem ($46,150). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Lynchburg. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Lynchburg gives you roughly$49,480 of real buying power versus $46,150 in the other city.