Security Guard Salary in Greenville, SC
Security Guards in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area earn a median $35,760 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,925 take-home, or $2,494 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Greenville, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,111
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- South Carolina income tax$989
- Take-home pay$29,925
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Greenville, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,690 | $13.79 | $24,668 | $2,056 |
| 25th percentile | $29,940 | $14.39 | $25,597 | $2,133 |
| Median (50th) | $35,760 | $17.19 | $29,925 | $2,494 |
| 75th percentile | $36,590 | $17.59 | $30,542 | $2,545 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,190 | $21.73 | $36,936 | $3,078 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,760 buys in Greenville, SC
Prices in Greenville, SC are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,925 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,087 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 Greenville, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Greenville, SC ranks #121 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 |
| 121 | Greenville, SC | $35,760 | $29,925 | $32,087 |
*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
- Columbia, SC — $35,140
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $36,810
- Charleston, SC — $36,620
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $31,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Greenville, SC?
The median security guard salary in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area is $35,760 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,940 and $36,590.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Greenville, SC?
On the median $35,760 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $29,925 a year ($2,494 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $989 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Greenville, SC a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,087 would in a typical U.S. city. Greenville, SC ranks #121 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Greenville, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Greenville, SC is $1,155 a month ($1,288 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Greenville, SC
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $57,780
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $47,240
- Firefighter — $39,980