Athens-Clarke County, GA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Security Guard Salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA

In the Athens-Clarke County, GA metropolitan area, security guards earned a median annual wage of $33,900 ($16.30/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,200/year and the 90th was $47,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Georgia tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,476 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 93.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,900$16.30 per hour · $2,825 monthly
10th Percentile$28,200$13.56/hr base
25th Percentile$30,000$14.42/hr base
75th Percentile$37,900$18.22/hr base
90th Percentile$47,100$22.64/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$33,900
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,900
Net 84%
Fed 6%
GA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,476After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,373Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,095Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,888 / yr
Georgia state income tax$943 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,593 / yr

Security Guards Wage Percentiles in Athens-Clarke County, GA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Security Guards in the Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (GA)
10th Percentile$13.56/hr$2,350$28,200$24,174
25th Percentile$14.42/hr$2,500$30,000$25,537
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.30/hr$2,825$33,900$28,476
75th Percentile$18.22/hr$3,158$37,900$31,490
90th Percentile$22.64/hr$3,925$47,100$38,423

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Athens-Clarke County, GA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,608Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index93.36.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.7%of area median income

Compare security guards salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Georgia:

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Guards Pay in Athens-Clarke County, GA

What is the median salary for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

The official BLS median annual wage for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA is $33,900, which equates to approximately $2,825 per month or $16.30 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA is $16.30 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.56/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.64/hour.

What is the pay range for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Athens-Clarke County, GA span from $28,200 at the 10th percentile to $30,000 at the 25th, $37,900 at the 75th, and $47,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

On a median gross salary of $33,900, an estimated $28,476 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,095 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Georgia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,424 (an effective rate of 16%).

How much do security guards make per month in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

On the median annual salary of $33,900, gross monthly income is $2,825. After federal, FICA, and Georgia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,373 per month (or $1,095 every two weeks).

Is $33,900 a good salary in Athens-Clarke County, GA?

At $33,900, the median salary for security guards is 51.7% of the Athens-Clarke County, GA median household income ($65,608). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 93.3, making regional consumer goods and services 6.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.