Security Guards pay range in Wheeling
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,060 or more. The middle half of security guards in Wheeling earn between $24,630 and $35,570.
- $21K10th
- $25K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,900 | $2,825 | $16.30 |
| Median | $30,960 | $2,580 | $14.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,630 | $2,052 | $11.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,570 | $2,964 | $17.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Security Guards salary after taxes in Wheeling
On the average salary of $33,900, a single filer in Wheeling takes home about $28,568 a year, or $2,381 a month and $1,099 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $28,935 | $2,411 |
| Working in WV | $28,568 | $2,381 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wheeling a good place for security guards? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wheeling area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $33,900 buys what about $38,382 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wheeling ($44,250). A typical home costs $141,852, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Security Guards salary in other West Virginia cities
Wheeling ranks 4th 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 Wheeling: questions
How much do security guards make an hour in Wheeling?
$16.30 an hour on average, and $14.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security guards salary in Wheeling?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security guards take-home pay in Wheeling?
About $28,568 a year ($2,381 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,900.
Do security guards earn more in Wheeling than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Wheeling, WV-OH (48540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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