Security Guard Salary in Richmond, VA
Security Guards in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $36,960 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,566 take-home, or $2,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,292
- Medicare (1.45%)$536
- Virginia income tax$1,311
- Take-home pay$30,566
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,790 | $14.80 | $25,963 | $2,164 |
| 25th percentile | $35,210 | $16.93 | $29,261 | $2,438 |
| Median (50th) | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,566 | $2,547 |
| 75th percentile | $46,040 | $22.13 | $37,340 | $3,112 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,990 | $29.80 | $49,239 | $4,103 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,960 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,566 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,235 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 Richmond, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #150 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 |
| 150 | Richmond, VA | $36,960 | $30,566 | $31,235 |
*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 Virginia
- Lynchburg, VA — $49,480
- Roanoke, VA — $36,900
- Virginia Beach, VA — $37,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Richmond, VA?
The median security guard salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $36,960 a year, or about $17.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,210 and $46,040.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $36,960 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $30,566 a year ($2,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,311 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,235 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #150 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $100,260
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $100,210
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $91,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $67,440
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $62,720
- Firefighter — $60,790
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $51,660