Security Guards pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,870 or more. The middle half of security guards in Columbus earn between $29,190 and $37,870.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $38K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,200 | $3,017 | $17.40 |
| Median | $29,720 | $2,477 | $14.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,190 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,870 | $3,156 | $18.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $36,200, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $30,209 a year, or $2,517 a month and $1,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $30,209 | $2,517 |
| Working in AL | $29,805 | $2,484 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $36,200 buys what about $40,539 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 10th of 14 Georgia metro areas for this job; Hinesville pays the most ($49,710).
- Hinesville$49,710
- Warner Robins$40,110
- Atlanta$38,790
- Athens$37,940
- Gainesville$37,700
- Rome$37,180
- Macon$37,100
- Savannah$36,890
- Dalton$36,570
- Columbus$36,200
Highest-paying cities for security guards
Idaho Falls, ID pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($68,260).
- Idaho Falls, ID$68,260
- Fairbanks, AK$60,120
- Kennewick, WA$59,640
- Burlington, VT$55,360
- Anchorage, AK$54,540
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Security Guards salary in Columbus: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Columbus?
$17.40 an hour on average, and $14.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Columbus?
About $30,209 a year ($2,517 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,200.
Do security guards earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($42,221).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9032; area Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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