Security Guard Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Security Guards in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn a median $31,590 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,248 take-home, or $2,187 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Tuscaloosa, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,611
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,959
- Medicare (1.45%)$458
- Alabama income tax$1,315
- Take-home pay$26,248
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Security Guard pay by experience in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,790 | $10.48 | $18,730 | $1,561 |
| 25th percentile | $27,090 | $13.02 | $22,829 | $1,902 |
| Median (50th) | $31,590 | $15.19 | $26,248 | $2,187 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 | $29,571 | $2,464 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,600 | $20.96 | $35,298 | $2,941 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,590 buys in Tuscaloosa, AL
Prices in Tuscaloosa, AL are 12.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 42% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $26,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,922 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 Tuscaloosa, AL than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #197 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 |
| 197 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,590 | $26,248 | $29,922 |
*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
- Huntsville, AL — $36,210
- Mobile, AL — $33,630
- Dothan, AL — $30,720
- Birmingham, AL — $33,820
- Montgomery, AL — $31,000
- Daphne, AL — $31,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median security guard salary in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area is $31,590 a year, or about $15.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,090 and $36,000.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Tuscaloosa, AL?
On the median $31,590 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $26,248 a year ($2,187 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,315 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Tuscaloosa, AL a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 12.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,922 would in a typical U.S. city. Tuscaloosa, AL ranks #197 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tuscaloosa, AL is $943 a month ($1,141 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $59,670
- Firefighter — $58,400