Salaries › Security Guard › Tennessee
Security Guard Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$17.31 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,106/year ($2,592/month) for a single filer
Security Guard pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $29,310 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,000 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $40,620 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $51,680 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 27,690 Security Guard jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 33-9032, “Security Guards”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Security Guard salary of $36,000 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $31,106 — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
| Gross (median) | $36,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,140 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,754 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,106 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,592 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Security Guard make in Tennessee?
- The median Security Guard salary in Tennessee is $36,000 per year ($17.31 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,850 and $40,620.
- What is the take-home pay for a Security Guard in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $36,000, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $31,106 per year ($2,592 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
- How many Security Guard jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 27,690 Security Guard jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Security Guards
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.