Security Guard Salary in Charlotte, NC
Security Guards in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $35,010 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,422 take-home, or $2,452 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,021
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,171
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- North Carolina income tax$888
- Take-home pay$29,422
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Security Guard pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,520 | $14.19 | $25,230 | $2,103 |
| 25th percentile | $33,110 | $15.92 | $27,972 | $2,331 |
| Median (50th) | $35,010 | $16.83 | $29,422 | $2,452 |
| 75th percentile | $42,940 | $20.64 | $35,478 | $2,956 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,740 | $22.47 | $38,379 | $3,198 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,010 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,422 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,224 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #193 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 |
| 193 | Charlotte, NC | $35,010 | $29,422 | $30,224 |
*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 North Carolina
- Fayetteville, NC — $42,940
- Durham, NC — $38,530
- Winston, NC — $36,040
- Wilmington, NC — $36,960
- Asheville, NC — $36,820
- Hickory, NC — $31,860
- Greensboro, NC — $33,430
- Raleigh, NC — $34,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Charlotte, NC?
The median security guard salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $35,010 a year, or about $16.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,110 and $42,940.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $35,010 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,422 a year ($2,452 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $888 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,224 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #193 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $107,150
- Private Detective and Investigator — $73,430
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $71,460
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $65,960
- Transportation Security Screener — $64,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $63,190
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $54,600
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,550
- Firefighter — $38,700
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $34,690
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $28,740