Security Guard Salary in Huntsville, AL
Security Guards in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn a median $36,210 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,729 take-home, or $2,477 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Huntsville, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,165
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,245
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Alabama income tax$1,546
- Take-home pay$29,729
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Huntsville, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 | $22,264 | $1,855 |
| 25th percentile | $29,770 | $14.31 | $24,877 | $2,073 |
| Median (50th) | $36,210 | $17.41 | $29,729 | $2,477 |
| 75th percentile | $44,540 | $21.41 | $36,006 | $3,000 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,300 | $28.51 | $47,128 | $3,927 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,210 buys in Huntsville, AL
Prices in Huntsville, AL are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,729 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,942 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 Huntsville, AL than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Huntsville, AL ranks #126 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 |
| 126 | Huntsville, AL | $36,210 | $29,729 | $31,942 |
*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 Alabama
- Decatur, AL — $38,500
- Mobile, AL — $33,630
- Dothan, AL — $30,720
- Birmingham, AL — $33,820
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $31,590
- Montgomery, AL — $31,000
- Daphne, AL — $31,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Huntsville, AL?
The median security guard salary in the Huntsville, AL metro area is $36,210 a year, or about $17.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,770 and $44,540.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Huntsville, AL?
On the median $36,210 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $29,729 a year ($2,477 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,546 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Huntsville, AL a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,942 would in a typical U.S. city. Huntsville, AL ranks #126 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Huntsville, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Huntsville, AL is $1,136 a month ($1,310 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 Huntsville, AL
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $64,550
- Firefighter — $48,010