Knoxville, TN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Security Guard Salary in Knoxville, TN

In the Knoxville, TN metropolitan area, security guards earned a median annual wage of $36,300 ($17.45/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,500/year and the 90th was $52,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,347 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,300$17.45 per hour · $3,025 monthly
10th Percentile$29,500$14.18/hr base
25th Percentile$31,100$14.95/hr base
75th Percentile$40,900$19.66/hr base
90th Percentile$52,100$25.05/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

$36,300
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,300
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,347After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,612Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,206Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,176 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,777 / yr

Security Guards Wage Percentiles in Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$14.18/hr$2,458$29,500$25,883
25th Percentile$14.95/hr$2,592$31,100$27,169
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.45/hr$3,025$36,300$31,347
75th Percentile$19.66/hr$3,408$40,900$35,043
90th Percentile$25.05/hr$4,342$52,100$44,042

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Knoxville, TN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,300 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$72,422Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.67.4% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio50.1%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Guards Pay in Knoxville, TN

What is the median salary for security guards in Knoxville, TN?

The official BLS median annual wage for security guards in Knoxville, TN is $36,300, which equates to approximately $3,025 per month or $17.45 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for security guards in Knoxville, TN?

The median hourly wage for security guards in Knoxville, TN is $17.45 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.18/hour and one in ten earned more than $25.05/hour.

What is the pay range for security guards in Knoxville, TN?

BLS wage estimates for security guards in Knoxville, TN span from $29,500 at the 10th percentile to $31,100 at the 25th, $40,900 at the 75th, and $52,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do security guards take home after taxes in Knoxville, TN?

On a median gross salary of $36,300, an estimated $31,347 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,206 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,953 (an effective rate of 13.6%).

How much do security guards make per month in Knoxville, TN?

On the median annual salary of $36,300, gross monthly income is $3,025. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,612 per month (or $1,206 every two weeks).

Is $36,300 a good salary in Knoxville, TN?

At $36,300, the median salary for security guards is 50.1% of the Knoxville, TN median household income ($72,422). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.6, making regional consumer goods and services 7.4% cheaper than the U.S. average.