SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Birmingham, AL is $33,820 a year, trailing the national median of $38,020 by 11.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Birmingham, AL is $33,820 a year, trailing the national median of $38,020 by 11.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,960 and $36,900. The lowest tenth earn under $23,070, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,410.
The area has 5,660 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.32 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Decatur records the highest median at $38,500. Of the 489 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 441st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,070 | −39.3% |
| 25th | $28,960 | −23.8% |
| Median (50th) | $33,820 | −11.0% |
| 75th | $36,900 | −2.9% |
| 90th | $44,410 | +16.8% |
| Mean | $34,350 | −9.7% |
Other 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 | 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 Birmingham run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $33,820 goes as far as $38,086 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,086US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,820 a year, 11.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,070 to $44,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,660 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 Birmingham, AL?
The median annual wage is $33,820, or $16.26 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 Birmingham, AL is 11.0% 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 Birmingham, AL earns more than $44,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,070 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 5,660 jobs in this occupation in Birmingham, 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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