Security Guards pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,290 or more. The middle half of security guards in Winston-Salem earn between $33,180 and $47,010.
- $30K10th
- $33K25th
- $36KMedian
- $47K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,090 | $3,424 | $19.75 |
| Median | $36,040 | $3,003 | $17.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,180 | $2,765 | $15.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,010 | $3,918 | $22.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Security guards in Winston-Salem earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($39,090) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $41,090 | $36,040 | $29,530 | $62,290 | 1,290 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 | $35,010 | $29,260 | $56,020 | 29,830 |
| 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 Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $41,090, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $34,065 a year, or $2,839 a month and $1,310 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Winston-Salem a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $41,090 buys what about $44,642 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 4th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($43,580).
- Fayetteville$43,580
- Wilmington$42,750
- Greenville$42,040
- Winston-Salem$41,090
- Raleigh$40,750
- Rocky Mount$40,680
- Durham$40,650
- Asheville$39,820
- Charlotte$38,340
- Burlington$36,920
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 Winston-Salem: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$19.76 an hour on average, and $17.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $34,065 a year ($2,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,090.
Do security guards earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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