Security Guard Salary in Durham, NC
Security Guards in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $38,530 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,110 take-home, or $2,676 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,389
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- North Carolina income tax$1,029
- Take-home pay$32,110
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,450 | $14.16 | $25,177 | $2,098 |
| 25th percentile | $30,160 | $14.50 | $25,719 | $2,143 |
| Median (50th) | $38,530 | $18.52 | $32,110 | $2,676 |
| 75th percentile | $44,910 | $21.59 | $36,982 | $3,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,110 | $28.42 | $47,825 | $3,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,530 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $32,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,909 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 Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #89 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 |
| 89 | Durham, NC | $38,530 | $32,110 | $32,909 |
*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
- Winston, NC — $36,040
- Wilmington, NC — $36,960
- Asheville, NC — $36,820
- Hickory, NC — $31,860
- Greensboro, NC — $33,430
- Charlotte, NC — $35,010
- Raleigh, NC — $34,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Durham, NC?
The median security guard salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $38,530 a year, or about $18.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,160 and $44,910.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $38,530 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $32,110 a year ($2,676 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,029 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,909 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #89 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,100
- Firefighter — $38,350