Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a security guard make in Memphis, TN?

In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area, security guards earned a median of $35,100 a year ($16.88 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 8,450 of these jobs there. That is 25% below the $46,890 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $29,060 and $45,930; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Arkansas tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $29,559 in take-home pay.

Security guard pay in Memphis, TN at a glance

Median salary

$35,100$16.88 per hour · $2,925 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$29,060$13.97/hr
25th percentile$30,360$14.60/hr
75th percentile$36,880$17.73/hr
90th percentile$45,930$22.08/hr
Jobs in this metro8,450Location quotient 1.67 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here25% belowAll-jobs median $46,890
Against Arkansas2% belowStatewide median $35,770
Against the U.S.8% belowNational median $38,020

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Security guard salary in Memphis, TN after taxes

$35,100
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,100
Net 84%
Fed 6%
AR 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,559After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,463Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,137Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,032 / yr
Arkansas state income tax$824 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,685 / yr

Security guards pay range in Memphis, TN, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What security guards earned in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AR)
10th percentile$13.97/hr$2,422$29,060$24,942
25th percentile$14.60/hr$2,530$30,360$25,936
MedianMedian$16.88/hr$2,925$35,100$29,559
75th percentile$17.73/hr$3,073$36,880$30,920
90th percentile$22.08/hr$3,828$45,930$37,839

Is $35,100 a good salary in Memphis, TN?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for security guards next to both.

Median household income$66,401Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)92.27.8% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household52.9%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Security guard pay in Memphis, TN: common questions

What is the median salary for security guards in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

The BLS median annual wage for security guards in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area was $35,100 in May 2025, about $2,925 a month or $16.88 an hour. Statewide, the Arkansas median for this job is $35,770, so the metro pays 2% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Memphis, TN-MS-AR was $16.88 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.97 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.08.

How many security guards work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

BLS estimated 8,450 jobs for security guards in the metro in May 2025, or 13.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.67 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for security guards in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Memphis, TN-MS-AR run from $29,060 at the 10th percentile to $30,360 at the 25th, $36,880 at the 75th, and $45,930 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

On a median gross salary of $35,100, an estimated $29,559 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,137 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Arkansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,541 (an effective rate of 15.8%).

How much do security guards make per month in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

On the median annual salary of $35,100, gross monthly income is $2,925. After federal, FICA, and Arkansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,463 per month (or $1,137 every two weeks).

Is $35,100 a good salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

At $35,100, the median salary for security guards is 52.9% of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR median household income ($66,401). It is 25% below the $46,890 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 92.2, so prices here run 7.8% below the U.S. average.