Guard pay in Alabama · Rank #48 of 51
What security guards make in Alabama
15,210 employed officers · $16.21/hr median ($33,500/yr) · $16.67/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in Alabama25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$16.21/hr median
| Security guards, Alabama | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $13.49 | $28,000 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $16.21 | $33,500 |
| Average (mean) | $16.67 | $34,500 |
| 75th percentile | $17.99 | $37,500 |
| 90th percentile | $21.94 | $45,500 |
| Supervisors, median | $22.81 | $47,500 |
Security guard pay by city in AlabamaOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce3 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALBirmingham, AL | 5,660 | $16.26 | $16.51 | $17.74 |
| Huntsville, ALHuntsville, AL | 1,600 | $17.41 | $18.83 | $21.41 |
| Montgomery, ALMontgomery, AL | 1,520 | $14.91 | $16.02 | $17.51 |
Estimate your own pay in AlabamaAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$13.49
$16.21
$17.99
$21.94
How this range is calculated & BLS source
- Experience places you inside the state wage distribution: newer guards near the 25th percentile, 7+ years between the 75th and 90th.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates (bls.gov), retrieved 2026-10-16. Ranges are statistical estimates for negotiation context, not a guarantee of pay.
How Alabama compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #48 of 51
Alabama ranks 48 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 11% below the national median of $18.28. The middle half of Alabama guards earned between $13.49 and $17.99 an hour; the top tenth earned $21.94 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), 2025 annual estimates, occupations 33-9032 Security Guards and 33-1091 First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers, Alabama table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.