Security Guard Salary in Little Rock, AR
Security Guards in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area earn a median $35,930 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,861 take-home, or $2,488 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Little Rock, AR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,132
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,228
- Medicare (1.45%)$521
- Arkansas income tax$1,189
- Take-home pay$29,861
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.90% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Little Rock, AR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,910 | $13.90 | $24,494 | $2,041 |
| 25th percentile | $29,200 | $14.04 | $24,716 | $2,060 |
| Median (50th) | $35,930 | $17.27 | $29,861 | $2,488 |
| 75th percentile | $39,840 | $19.15 | $32,850 | $2,738 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,050 | $25.02 | $42,185 | $3,515 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arkansas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,930 buys in Little Rock, AR
Prices in Little Rock, AR are 10.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $29,861 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,415 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 Little Rock, AR than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Little Rock, AR ranks #77 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 |
| 77 | Little Rock, AR | $35,930 | $29,861 | $33,415 |
*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 Arkansas
- Fayetteville, AR — $36,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Little Rock, AR?
The median security guard salary in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area is $35,930 a year, or about $17.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,200 and $39,840.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Little Rock, AR?
On the median $35,930 salary, a single filer living in Arkansas takes home about $29,861 a year ($2,488 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,189 in Arkansas taxes in 2026.
Is Little Rock, AR a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 10.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,415 would in a typical U.S. city. Little Rock, AR ranks #77 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Little Rock, AR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Little Rock, AR is $984 a month ($1,143 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Little Rock, AR
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $77,330
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $54,840
- Firefighter — $48,110
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $41,960