Security Guard Salary in Birmingham, AL
Security Guards in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $33,820 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,928 take-home, or $2,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,878
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,097
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- Alabama income tax$1,426
- Take-home pay$27,928
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Living in Birmingham? City residents also pay Birmingham’s Occupational Tax — about $338 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,590 ($2,299 a month). Choose “Birmingham” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Security Guard pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,070 | $11.09 | $19,720 | $1,643 |
| 25th percentile | $28,960 | $13.92 | $24,266 | $2,022 |
| Median (50th) | $33,820 | $16.26 | $27,928 | $2,327 |
| 75th percentile | $36,900 | $17.74 | $30,249 | $2,521 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,410 | $21.35 | $35,908 | $2,992 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,820 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $27,928 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,475 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Birmingham, AL has 1.3× the national concentration of security guard jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #58 of 77 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 2 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,810 | $34,747 | $37,546 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,600 | $35,344 | $37,170 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $47,490 | $40,338 | $36,297 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $42,860 | $34,901 | $35,967 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,260 | $35,959 | $35,649 |
| 8 | Albany, NY | $43,250 | $35,193 | $35,346 |
| 58 | Birmingham, AL | $33,820 | $27,928 | $30,475 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 77 metros →
About the job: security guards
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.9% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Birmingham, AL?
The median security guard salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $33,820 a year, or about $16.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,960 and $36,900.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $33,820 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $27,928 a year ($2,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,426 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,475 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #58 of 77 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,590
- Firefighter — $51,050