Guard pay in Arkansas · Rank #42 of 51
What security guards make in Arkansas
6,390 employed officers · $17.20/hr median ($36,000/yr) · $18.41/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in Arkansas25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$17.20/hr median
| Security guards, Arkansas | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $14.30 | $29,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $17.20 | $36,000 |
| Average (mean) | $18.41 | $38,500 |
| 75th percentile | $19.81 | $41,000 |
| 90th percentile | $27.60 | $57,500 |
| Supervisors, median | $25.96 | $54,000 |
Security guard pay by city in ArkansasOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce4 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNMemphis, TN-MS-AR | 8,450 | $16.88 | $17.58 | $17.73 |
| Little Rock, ARLittle Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 2,260 | $17.27 | $18.06 | $19.15 |
| Fayetteville, ARFayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 1,150 | $17.36 | $18.50 | $18.84 |
| Fort Smith, ARFort Smith, AR-OK | 420 | $16.60 | $18.12 | $21 |
Estimate your own pay in ArkansasAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$14.30
$17.20
$19.81
$27.60
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 Arkansas compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #42 of 51
Arkansas ranks 42 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 6% below the national median of $18.28. The middle half of Arkansas guards earned between $14.30 and $19.81 an hour; the top tenth earned $27.60 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, Arkansas table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.