SOC 33-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Security Guards — Virginia
Virginia · 9 metro areas compared
In Virginia the median wage for Security Guards is $43,640 a year, which is 14.8% higher than the national figure of $38,020.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Virginia the median wage for Security Guards is $43,640 a year, which is 14.8% higher than the national figure of $38,020. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $35,990 and $54,850. The lowest tenth earn under $30,990, while the highest tenth earn more than $73,060.
The area has 34,870 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.03 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Virginia ranks number 10th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lynchburg records the highest median at $49,480. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 608th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,990 | −18.5% |
| 25th | $35,990 | −5.3% |
| Median (50th) | $43,640 | +14.8% |
| 75th | $54,850 | +44.3% |
| 90th | $73,060 | +92.2% |
| Mean | $47,070 | +23.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynchburg | $49,480 | 570 | |
| 2 | Charlottesville | $42,170 | 340 | |
| 3 | Staunton | $41,950 | 170 | |
| 4 | Winchester | $37,900 | 260 | |
| 5 | Virginia Beach | $37,230 | 7,470 | |
| 6 | Harrisonburg | $37,160 | 200 | |
| 7 | Richmond | $36,960 | 4,630 | |
| 8 | Roanoke | $36,900 | 1,300 | |
| 9 | Blacksburg | $36,780 | 400 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Virginia sit close to the national average, so $43,640 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$43,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,165US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,640 a year, 14.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,990 to $73,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 34,870 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lynchburg, at $49,480.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Security Guards in Virginia?
The median annual wage is $43,640, or $20.98 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 Virginia is 14.8% higher. 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 Virginia earns more than $73,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,990 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 Lynchburg, at $49,480 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 34,870 jobs in this occupation in Virginia. 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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