Salaries › Security Guard › Kentucky
Security Guard Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$17.03 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,400/year ($2,450/month) for a single filer
Security Guard pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,450 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,440 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,420 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $40,370 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $50,800 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,580 Security Guard jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 33-9032, “Security Guards”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Security Guard salary of $35,420 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,400 — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
| Gross (median) | $35,420 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,070 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,710 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,240 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,400 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,450 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Security Guard make in Kentucky?
- The median Security Guard salary in Kentucky is $35,420 per year ($17.03 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,440 and $40,370.
- What is the take-home pay for a Security Guard in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $35,420, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $29,400 per year ($2,450 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.0%.
- How many Security Guard jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 13,580 Security Guard jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Security Guards
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.