Security Guard Salary in Atlanta, GA
Security Guards in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $35,150 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,222 take-home, or $2,435 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,038
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,179
- Medicare (1.45%)$510
- Georgia income tax$1,201
- Take-home pay$29,222
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,000 | $14.42 | $25,351 | $2,113 |
| 25th percentile | $33,090 | $15.91 | $27,673 | $2,306 |
| Median (50th) | $35,150 | $16.90 | $29,222 | $2,435 |
| 75th percentile | $39,330 | $18.91 | $32,363 | $2,697 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,010 | $23.08 | $38,887 | $3,241 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,150 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,222 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,205 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Security Guard jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #211 of 224 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | $61,120 | $64,737 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $54,670 | $46,107 | $46,071 |
| 3 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | $39,906 | $44,656 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | $38,841 | $42,767 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 6 | Utica, NY | $44,420 | $36,070 | $38,919 |
| 7 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | $35,478 | $38,572 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 211 | Atlanta, GA | $35,150 | $29,222 | $29,205 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 224 metros →
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Macon, GA — $33,940
- Savannah, GA — $34,810
- Augusta, GA — $33,450
- Athens, GA — $33,910
- Albany, GA — $29,700
- Columbus, GA — $29,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Atlanta, GA?
The median security guard salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $35,150 a year, or about $16.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,090 and $39,330.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $35,150 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $29,222 a year ($2,435 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,201 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,205 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #211 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $81,860
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $76,490
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $69,900
- Transportation Security Screener — $66,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $61,580
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,910
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,380
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,230
- Firefighter — $47,300
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $45,950
- Private Detective and Investigator — $45,080
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $34,990