SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Auburn
Auburn-Opelika, AL · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Auburn, AL is $34,840 a year, trailing the national median of $38,020 by 8.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Auburn, AL is $34,840 a year, trailing the national median of $38,020 by 8.4%. Half of workers earn between $27,800 and $37,890. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $20,590 and the ninetieth at $45,500.
The area has 320 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.54 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. 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 214th of 260 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,590 | −45.8% |
| 25th | $27,800 | −26.9% |
| Median (50th) | $34,840 | −8.4% |
| 75th | $37,890 | −0.3% |
| 90th | $45,500 | +19.7% |
| Mean | $33,950 | −10.7% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $38,500 | 450 | |
| 2 | Huntsville | $36,210 | 1,600 | |
| 3 | Birmingham | $33,820 | 5,660 | |
| 4 | Mobile | $33,630 | 1,170 | |
| 5 | Tuscaloosa | $31,590 | 530 | |
| 6 | Daphne | $31,240 | 750 | |
| 7 | Montgomery | $31,000 | 1,520 | |
| 8 | Anniston | $30,760 | 290 | |
| 9 | Dothan | $30,720 | 650 | |
| 10 | Gadsden | $30,040 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Auburn run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $34,840 goes as far as $39,234 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,234US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,840 a year, 8.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,590 to $45,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 320 jobs in 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 Auburn, AL?
The median annual wage is $34,840, or $16.75 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 Auburn, AL is 8.4% 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 Auburn, AL earns more than $45,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,590 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 320 jobs in this occupation in Auburn, AL. 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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