Security Guards Salary in Alabama
Security Guards in Alabama have a median of $33,720 a year, below the national $38,020 (−11%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. That is 26% less than the median across all occupations in Alabama ($45,670). Among neighbouring states, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia pay more (up to $36,000 in Tennessee) and Mississippi pays less (down to $29,180 in Mississippi). Alabama employs 15,210 security guards, 7.20 per 1,000 jobs, the 25th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.87 is close to the national share.
Alabama vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $11.11 | $13.49 | $16.21 | $17.99 | $21.94 | $16.67 | 15,210 | 7.20 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $23,110 | $28,060 | $33,720 | $37,420 | $45,640 | $34,680 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.52 | $16.93 | $18.28 | $22.21 | $28.29 | $20.42 | 1,283,470 | – | – |
| Annual | $30,210 | $35,210 | $38,020 | $46,200 | $58,840 | $42,470 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 25th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.87
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.20
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Alabama's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Alabama
13 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Alabama publish a row for security guards, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | $18.51 | $38,500 | $28,840 | $63,440 | 450 | 7.39 | 0.90 |
| Huntsville, AL | $17.41 | $36,210 | $26,360 | $59,300 | 1,600 | 6.00 | 0.73 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $16.75 | $34,840 | $20,590 | $45,500 | 320 | 4.43 | 0.54 |
| Birmingham, AL | $16.26 | $33,820 | $23,070 | $44,410 | 5,660 | 10.87 | 1.32 |
| Mobile, AL | $16.17 | $33,630 | $23,660 | $43,280 | 1,170 | 6.76 | 0.82 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $15.19 | $31,590 | $21,790 | $43,600 | 530 | 4.86 | 0.59 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $15.02 | $31,240 | $23,720 | $43,140 | 750 | 8.59 | 1.04 |
| Montgomery, AL | $14.91 | $31,000 | $23,240 | $43,740 | 1,520 | 9.16 | 1.11 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $14.79 | $30,760 | $22,560 | $57,510 | 290 | 6.57 | 0.80 |
| Dothan, AL | $14.77 | $30,720 | $23,510 | $63,680 | 650 | 10.73 | 1.30 |
| Gadsden, AL | $14.44 | $30,040 | $21,300 | $45,730 | 110 | 3.17 | 0.38 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $14.29 | $29,720 | $26,680 | $53,870 | 1,150 | 9.92 | 1.20 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $14.13 | $29,400 | $23,170 | $41,660 | 180 | 3.29 | 0.40 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $16.00 | $33,270 | $22,460 | $52,440 | 300 | 3.60 | 0.44 |
| Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $14.85 | $30,890 | $22,430 | $40,680 | 290 | 4.55 | 0.55 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $14.41 | $29,970 | $22,430 | $41,940 | 440 | 2.85 | 0.35 |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $13.52 | $28,130 | $22,220 | $46,340 | 130 | 1.99 | 0.24 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $16.21 | $33,720 | 15,210 | 0.87 |
| Florida | $17.26 | $35,900 | 95,370 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | $16.82 | $34,980 | 36,210 | 0.90 |
| Mississippi | $14.03 | $29,180 | 10,160 | 1.06 |
| Tennessee | $17.31 | $36,000 | 27,690 | 1.02 |
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Alabama wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Alabama estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.