Security Guard Salary in Charleston, SC
Security Guards in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $36,620 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,564 take-home, or $2,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,214
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- South Carolina income tax$1,040
- Take-home pay$30,564
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,950 | $14.40 | $25,605 | $2,134 |
| 25th percentile | $34,370 | $16.52 | $28,891 | $2,408 |
| Median (50th) | $36,620 | $17.61 | $30,564 | $2,547 |
| 75th percentile | $42,410 | $20.39 | $34,869 | $2,906 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,380 | $25.18 | $42,282 | $3,523 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,620 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,564 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,273 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 less concentrated in Charleston, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #192 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 |
| 192 | Charleston, SC | $36,620 | $30,564 | $30,273 |
*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 South Carolina
- Florence, SC — $39,060
- Spartanburg, SC — $36,350
- Greenville, SC — $35,760
- Columbia, SC — $35,140
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $36,810
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $31,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Charleston, SC?
The median security guard salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $36,620 a year, or about $17.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,370 and $42,410.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $36,620 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $30,564 a year ($2,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,040 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,273 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #192 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,570
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $52,300
- Firefighter — $46,830
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $33,170