Security Guards pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,710 or more. The middle half of security guards in Virginia Beach earn between $34,810 and $46,730.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $47K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,280 | $3,523 | $20.33 |
| Median | $37,230 | $3,102 | $17.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,810 | $2,901 | $16.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,730 | $3,894 | $22.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $42,280, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $34,535 a year, or $2,878 a month and $1,328 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $34,974 | $2,914 |
| Working in VA | $34,535 | $2,878 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $42,280 buys what about $43,169 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 4th of 9 Virginia metro areas for this job; Lynchburg pays the most ($52,570).
- Lynchburg$52,570
- Charlottesville$45,300
- Staunton$43,500
- Virginia Beach$42,280
- Richmond$42,150
- Roanoke$41,790
- Blacksburg$41,560
- Winchester$40,420
- Harrisonburg$39,920
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Security Guards salary in Virginia Beach: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$20.33 an hour on average, and $17.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $34,535 a year ($2,878 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,280.
Do security guards earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). 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 state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.