Security Guards pay range in Owensboro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,170 or more. The middle half of security guards in Owensboro earn between $31,440 and $36,750.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $37K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,690 | $2,974 | $17.16 |
| Median | $31,440 | $2,620 | $15.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,440 | $2,620 | $15.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Owensboro
On the average salary of $35,690, a single filer in Owensboro takes home about $29,090 a year, or $2,424 a month and $1,119 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Is Owensboro a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Owensboro area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.6), so the average $35,690 buys what about $40,278 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Owensboro ($44,960). A typical home costs $213,657, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Kentucky cities
Owensboro ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Paducah pays the most ($48,080).
- Paducah$48,080
- Louisville$40,210
- Bowling Green$39,440
- Elizabethtown$37,550
- Lexington$37,490
- Owensboro$35,690
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 Owensboro: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Owensboro?
$17.16 an hour on average, and $15.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Owensboro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Owensboro?
About $29,090 a year ($2,424 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,690. Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Do security guards earn more in Owensboro than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Owensboro, KY (36980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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). Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.38, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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