LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Security Guards in Memphis, TN · Generated June 15, 2026
Security Guards Salary in Memphis, TN $35,100/yr
$35,100
Mean: $36,570
~$27,378 est. take-home
$16.88
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Difficult
Affordability score: 7/100
$75/mo
3%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$30,360
Median
$35,100
75th %
$36,880
Median is in the 73th percentile of the typical range
Security Guards in other TN cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in TN.
About Security Guards salaries in Memphis, TN
Security Guards in Memphis, TN earn a median of $35,100 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $36,570, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most security guards in this area earn between $30,360 and $36,880. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $16.88 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
5% growth. Steady demand from office buildings, hospitals, schools, and event venues. Some roles are evolving to include monitoring digital security systems alongside traditional patrols.
Worth knowing: Armed security certifications and state guard cards open up better-paying positions. Corporate and hospital security roles pay noticeably more than residential or retail assignments.
Security Guards Jobs in Memphis, TN
Median: $35,100/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a security guards in Memphis?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $35,100. The average (mean) is $36,570, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a security guards make per hour in Memphis?▾
About $16.88/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for security guards in Memphis?▾
The middle 50% earn between $30,360 and $36,880. Below $30,360 is typically entry-level; above $36,880 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $35,100 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $35,100 | $27,378 |
| Monthly | $2,925 | $2,282 |
| Biweekly | $1,350 | $1,053 |
| Weekly | $675 | $527 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $16.88 | $13.16 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $19.29 | $15.04 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $22.5 | $17.55 |
| Daily (8h) | $135 | $105 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Security Guards: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for security guards, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in Memphis
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Security Guards salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for security guards across all states.
- All TN salary data — every occupation we cover in TN, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Security Guards in Idaho Falls, ID — the top-paying city for security guards in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Memphis.
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $100,131.