Guard pay in North Carolina · Rank #46 of 51
What security guards make in North Carolina
29,830 employed officers · $16.83/hr median ($35,000/yr) · $18.79/hr average.
Statewide pay by percentile in North Carolina25th, Median, Average, 75th, 90th percentile, and Supervisor rates (BLS 2025)$16.83/hr median
| Security guards, North Carolina | Hourly | Full-time year |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $14.73 | $30,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $16.83 | $35,000 |
| Average (mean) | $18.79 | $39,000 |
| 75th percentile | $20.96 | $43,500 |
| 90th percentile | $26.93 | $56,000 |
| Supervisors, median | $27.59 | $57,500 |
Security guard pay by city in North CarolinaOfficial BLS metropolitan area estimates ordered by local guard workforce4 metros
| Metro area | Guards | Median | Average | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NCCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12,020 | $16.83 | $18.43 | $20.65 |
| Virginia Beach, VAVirginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 7,470 | $17.90 | $20.33 | $22.47 |
| Raleigh, NCRaleigh-Cary, NC | 4,780 | $16.67 | $19.59 | $20.93 |
| Greensboro, NCGreensboro-High Point, NC | 2,820 | $16.07 | $17.64 | $18.93 |
Estimate your own pay in North CarolinaAdjust for unarmed, armed, or supervisor role and your years of experienceRole calculator
$14.73
$16.83
$20.96
$26.93
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 North Carolina compares nationally & data sourceState ranking, wage spread, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodologyRank #46 of 51
North Carolina ranks 46 of 51 for median security guard pay (1 is highest), 8% below the national median of $18.28. The middle half of North Carolina guards earned between $14.73 and $20.96 an hour; the top tenth earned $26.93 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, North Carolina table. Full-time year is hourly pay times 2,080 hours. BLS does not separate armed and unarmed posts.