Guard pay in Kentucky · Rank #45 of 51
What security guards make in Kentucky
13,580 employed officers · $17.03/hr median ($35,500/yr) · $18.53/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in Kentucky25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$17.03/hr median
| Security guards, Kentucky | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $15.12 | $31,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $17.03 | $35,500 |
| Average (mean) | $18.53 | $38,500 |
| 75th percentile | $19.41 | $40,500 |
| 90th percentile | $24.42 | $51,000 |
| Supervisors, median | $24.17 | $50,500 |
Security guard pay by city in KentuckyOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce5 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OHCincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 7,970 | $17.36 | $19.31 | $21.52 |
| Louisville, KYLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 5,000 | $17.51 | $19.33 | $21.06 |
| Lexington, KYLexington-Fayette, KY | 2,560 | $17.02 | $18.02 | $17.86 |
| Huntington, WVHuntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 700 | $16.73 | $17.31 | $18.59 |
| Owensboro, KYOwensboro, KY | 560 | $15.12 | $17.16 | $17.67 |
Estimate your own pay in KentuckyAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$15.12
$17.03
$19.41
$24.42
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 Kentucky compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #45 of 51
Kentucky ranks 45 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 7% below the national median of $18.28. The middle half of Kentucky guards earned between $15.12 and $19.41 an hour; the top tenth earned $24.42 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, Kentucky table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.