SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — South Carolina
South Carolina · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $35,460 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $38,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $35,460 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $38,020. Half of workers earn between $30,130 and $38,220. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,420 and the ninetieth at $48,850.
The area has 16,610 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 7.2 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Carolina ranks 44th by median wage. Florence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $39,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 635th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,420 | −27.9% |
| 25th | $30,130 | −20.8% |
| Median (50th) | $35,460 | −6.7% |
| 75th | $38,220 | +0.5% |
| 90th | $48,850 | +28.5% |
| Mean | $37,060 | −2.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence | $39,060 | 610 | |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | $36,810 | 680 | |
| 3 | Charleston | $36,620 | 2,190 | |
| 4 | Spartanburg | $36,350 | 770 | |
| 5 | Greenville | $35,760 | 3,000 | |
| 6 | Columbia | $35,140 | 5,290 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $34,660 | 90 | |
| 8 | Myrtle Beach | $31,480 | 1,020 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $35,460 goes as far as $37,844 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,844US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,460 a year, 6.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,420 to $48,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 16,610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Florence, at $39,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $35,460, or $17.05 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 South Carolina is 6.7% 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 South Carolina earns more than $48,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,420 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 Florence, at $39,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 16,610 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. 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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