Security Guards pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,710 or more. The middle half of security guards in Paducah earn between $31,200 and $62,190.
- $28K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $62K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,080 | $4,007 | $23.12 |
| Median | $36,370 | $3,031 | $17.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,190 | $5,182 | $29.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $48,080, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $38,285 a year, or $3,190 a month and $1,473 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $38,573 | $3,214 |
| Working in KY | $38,285 | $3,190 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $48,080 buys what about $55,852 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 1st of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Paducah: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Paducah?
$23.12 an hour on average, and $17.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Paducah?
About $38,285 a year ($3,190 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,080. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do security guards earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). 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). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
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