SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Alabama
Alabama · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Security Guards in Alabama is $33,720 per year, 11.3% below the national median of $38,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Security Guards in Alabama is $33,720 per year, 11.3% below the national median of $38,020. Pay ranges from under $23,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,640 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $28,060 to $37,420.
Employment stands at 15,210, or 7.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Alabama ranks 48th by median wage. Decatur leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,500. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 623rd of 690 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,110 | −39.2% |
| 25th | $28,060 | −26.2% |
| Median (50th) | $33,720 | −11.3% |
| 75th | $37,420 | −1.6% |
| 90th | $45,640 | +20.0% |
| Mean | $34,680 | −8.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $38,500 | 450 | |
| 2 | Huntsville | $36,210 | 1,600 | |
| 3 | Auburn | $34,840 | 320 | |
| 4 | Birmingham | $33,820 | 5,660 | |
| 5 | Mobile | $33,630 | 1,170 | |
| 6 | Tuscaloosa | $31,590 | 530 | |
| 7 | Daphne | $31,240 | 750 | |
| 8 | Montgomery | $31,000 | 1,520 | |
| 9 | Anniston | $30,760 | 290 | |
| 10 | Dothan | $30,720 | 650 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $33,720 goes as far as $37,973 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,973US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,720 a year, 11.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,110 to $45,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 15,210 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $38,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $33,720, or $16.21 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,020, so pay in Alabama is 11.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $45,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,110 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Decatur, at $38,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 15,210 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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