Security Guards pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,790 or more. The middle half of security guards in Columbia earn between $30,130 and $37,900.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17.31 |
| Median | $35,140 | $2,928 | $16.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,130 | $2,511 | $14.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,900 | $3,158 | $18.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Security guards in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($37,060) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $36,000 | $35,140 | $28,120 | $45,790 | 5,290 |
| South Carolina | $37,060 | $35,460 | $27,420 | $48,850 | 16,610 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $36,000, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $30,688 a year, or $2,557 a month and $1,180 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $36,000 buys what about $38,436 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 7th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($42,410).
- Spartanburg$42,410
- Florence$41,810
- Charleston$39,510
- Hilton Head Island$39,020
- Sumter$38,350
- Greenville$36,090
- Columbia$36,000
- Myrtle Beach$33,420
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 Columbia: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Columbia?
$17.31 an hour on average, and $16.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Columbia?
About $30,688 a year ($2,557 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,000.
Do security guards earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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