Security Guards pay range in Morgantown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,850 or more. The middle half of security guards in Morgantown earn between $29,480 and $39,200.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $39K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,570 | $2,964 | $17.10 |
| Median | $34,290 | $2,858 | $16.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,200 | $3,267 | $18.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security Guards pay in Morgantown vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Security guards in Morgantown earn 14% more than the West Virginia average ($31,320) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($42,470). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $38,020.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $35,570 | $34,290 | $23,090 | $47,850 | 360 |
| West Virginia | $31,320 | $28,800 | $20,800 | $47,370 | 5,200 |
| United States | $42,470 | $38,020 | $30,210 | $58,840 | 1,283,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Morgantown
On the average salary of $35,570, a single filer in Morgantown takes home about $29,857 a year, or $2,488 a month and $1,148 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Morgantown a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Morgantown area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $35,570 buys what about $38,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Morgantown ($47,350). A typical home costs $226,953, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other West Virginia cities
Morgantown ranks 3rd of 6 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Huntington pays the most ($35,990).
- Huntington$35,990
- Weirton$35,880
- Morgantown$35,570
- Wheeling$33,900
- Parkersburg$33,210
- Charleston$26,890
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 Morgantown: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Morgantown?
$17.10 an hour on average, and $16.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Morgantown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Morgantown?
About $29,857 a year ($2,488 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,570.
Do security guards earn more in Morgantown than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,470).
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 Morgantown, WV (34060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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