Security Guard Salary in Kingsport, TN
Security Guards in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median $36,270 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,323 take-home, or $2,610 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Kingsport, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,172
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,249
- Medicare (1.45%)$526
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,323
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro spans Tennessee, Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Security Guard pay by experience in Kingsport, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,410 | $13.66 | $25,006 | $2,084 |
| 25th percentile | $30,750 | $14.78 | $26,888 | $2,241 |
| Median (50th) | $36,270 | $17.44 | $31,323 | $2,610 |
| 75th percentile | $40,620 | $19.53 | $34,818 | $2,902 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,310 | $25.15 | $44,211 | $3,684 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,270 buys in Kingsport, TN
Prices in Kingsport, TN are 13.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 44% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $31,323 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,234 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 Kingsport, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Kingsport, TN ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Kingsport, TN | $36,270 | $31,323 | $36,234 |
*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 Tennessee
- Jackson, TN — $35,960
- Chattanooga, TN — $35,650
- Knoxville, TN — $35,810
- Nashville, TN — $37,010
- Memphis, TN — $35,100
- Johnson City, TN — $27,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Kingsport, TN?
The median security guard salary in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $36,270 a year, or about $17.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,750 and $40,620.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Kingsport, TN?
On the median $36,270 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $31,323 a year ($2,610 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Kingsport, TN a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 13.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,234 would in a typical U.S. city. Kingsport, TN ranks #22 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Kingsport, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kingsport, TN is $818 a month ($1,044 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kingsport, TN
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $48,620