Security Guards pay range in Valdosta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,310 or more. The middle half of security guards in Valdosta earn between $28,000 and $38,930.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $33KMedian
- $39K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,750 | $2,896 | $16.71 |
| Median | $32,810 | $2,734 | $15.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,930 | $3,244 | $18.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Valdosta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Security guards in Valdosta earn 8% less than the Georgia average ($37,890) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta | $34,750 | $32,810 | $21,510 | $50,310 | 130 |
| Georgia | $37,890 | $34,980 | $29,060 | $48,590 | 36,210 |
| United States | $42,470 | $38,020 | $30,210 | $58,840 | 1,283,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Valdosta
On the average salary of $34,750, a single filer in Valdosta takes home about $29,116 a year, or $2,426 a month and $1,120 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Valdosta a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Valdosta area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $34,750 buys what about $39,367 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Valdosta ($39,110). A typical home costs $226,628, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Georgia cities
Valdosta ranks 13th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Hinesville pays the most ($49,710).
- Hinesville$49,710
- Warner Robins$40,110
- Atlanta$38,790
- Athens$37,940
- Gainesville$37,700
- Rome$37,180
- Macon$37,100
- Savannah$36,890
- Dalton$36,570
- Valdosta$34,750
Highest-paying cities for security guards
Idaho Falls, ID pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($68,260).
- Idaho Falls, ID$68,260
- Fairbanks, AK$60,120
- Kennewick, WA$59,640
- Burlington, VT$55,360
- Anchorage, AK$54,540
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Security Guards salary in Valdosta: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Valdosta?
$16.71 an hour on average, and $15.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Valdosta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Valdosta?
About $29,116 a year ($2,426 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,750.
Do security guards earn more in Valdosta than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,470).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9032; area Valdosta, GA (46660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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