Security Guard Salary in Knoxville, TN
Security Guards in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $35,810 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,953 take-home, or $2,579 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,117
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,953
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,420 | $14.14 | $25,819 | $2,152 |
| 25th percentile | $30,200 | $14.52 | $26,446 | $2,204 |
| Median (50th) | $35,810 | $17.22 | $30,953 | $2,579 |
| 75th percentile | $43,470 | $20.90 | $37,108 | $3,092 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,010 | $27.41 | $47,988 | $3,999 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,810 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,953 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,438 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 Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #76 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 |
| 76 | Knoxville, TN | $35,810 | $30,953 | $33,438 |
*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
- Kingsport, TN — $36,270
- Chattanooga, TN — $35,650
- Nashville, TN — $37,010
- Memphis, TN — $35,100
- Johnson City, TN — $27,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Knoxville, TN?
The median security guard salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $35,810 a year, or about $17.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,200 and $43,470.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $35,810 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $30,953 a year ($2,579 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,438 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #76 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $60,800
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $56,380
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $52,040
- Firefighter — $47,160