Security Guards Salary in Arkansas
Security Guards in Arkansas have a median of $35,770 a year, below the national $38,020 (−6%); the state ranks 42nd of 51 states by median. That is 18% less than the median across all occupations in Arkansas ($43,630). Among neighbouring states, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas pay more (up to $40,390 in Missouri) and Louisiana and Mississippi pay less (down to $29,180 in Mississippi). Arkansas employs 6,390 security guards, 4.90 per 1,000 jobs, the 38th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.59 means it is less common in Arkansas than nationally.
Arkansas vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Arkansas | Hourly | $13.88 | $14.30 | $17.20 | $19.81 | $27.60 | $18.41 | 6,390 | 4.90 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $28,870 | $29,750 | $35,770 | $41,210 | $57,410 | $38,300 | ||||
| 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
- 42nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 38th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.59
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.90
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Arkansas'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 Arkansas
7 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | $17.37 | $36,120 | $29,640 | $80,270 | 200 | 5.21 | 0.63 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $17.36 | $36,110 | $30,410 | $49,060 | 1,150 | 4.17 | 0.51 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $17.27 | $35,930 | $28,910 | $52,050 | 2,260 | 6.31 | 0.76 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $16.88 | $35,100 | $29,060 | $45,930 | 8,450 | 13.81 | 1.67 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $16.74 | $34,820 | $28,990 | $47,950 | 250 | 4.06 | 0.49 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $16.60 | $34,530 | $28,290 | $57,630 | 420 | 4.43 | 0.54 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $16.37 | $34,060 | $24,120 | $56,410 | 150 | 2.62 | 0.32 |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $18.52 | $38,520 | $27,980 | $65,560 | 430 | 5.05 | 0.61 |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $17.28 | $35,930 | $28,200 | $57,060 | 480 | 4.12 | 0.50 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $16.65 | $34,630 | $28,320 | $47,750 | 280 | 2.33 | 0.28 |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $14.85 | $30,890 | $28,330 | $43,360 | 170 | 2.52 | 0.31 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Security Guards (every state ranked) and the Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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.