Security Guards pay range in Clarksville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,280 or more. The middle half of security guards in Clarksville earn between $30,130 and $46,560.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $47K75th
- $53K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,480 | $3,290 | $18.98 |
| Median | $35,900 | $2,992 | $17.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,130 | $2,511 | $14.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,560 | $3,880 | $22.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Clarksville
On the average salary of $39,480, a single filer in Clarksville takes home about $33,902 a year, or $2,825 a month and $1,304 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Clarksville, TN-KY metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $33,902 | $2,825 |
| Working in KY | $32,638 | $2,720 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Clarksville a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Clarksville area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $39,480 buys what about $43,410 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Clarksville ($44,860). A typical home costs $292,990, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Tennessee cities
Clarksville ranks 3rd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($40,010).
- Nashville$40,010
- Knoxville$39,730
- Clarksville$39,480
- Chattanooga$38,910
- Kingsport$38,870
- Jackson$36,850
- Cleveland$36,660
- Memphis$36,570
- Morristown$34,170
- Johnson City$31,360
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 Clarksville: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Clarksville?
$18.98 an hour on average, and $17.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Clarksville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Clarksville?
About $33,902 a year ($2,825 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,480. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do security guards earn more in Clarksville than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Clarksville, TN-KY (17300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
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