Security Guards pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,990 or more. The middle half of security guards in Richmond earn between $35,210 and $46,040.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $46K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,150 | $3,512 | $20.26 |
| Median | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,210 | $2,934 | $16.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,040 | $3,837 | $22.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Security guards in Richmond earn 10% less than the Virginia average ($47,070) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $42,150 | $36,960 | $30,790 | $61,990 | 4,630 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | $43,640 | $30,990 | $73,060 | 34,870 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $42,150, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $34,438 a year, or $2,870 a month and $1,325 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $42,150 buys what about $43,073 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 5th of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Lynchburg pays the most ($52,570).
- Lynchburg$52,570
- Charlottesville$45,300
- Staunton$43,500
- Virginia Beach$42,280
- Richmond$42,150
- Roanoke$41,790
- Blacksburg$41,560
- Winchester$40,420
- Harrisonburg$39,920
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 Richmond: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Richmond?
$20.27 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Richmond?
About $34,438 a year ($2,870 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,150.
Do security guards earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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