Security Guards pay in South Carolina
$37,060avg. a year
$17.82 an hour · 16,610 employed
Security Guards in South Carolina earn an average of $37,060 a year. That is $5,410 (13%) less than the U.S. average of $42,470. The best-paying metro area is Spartanburg, SC at $42,410.
$35,460Median pay
$17.82Average hourly
+17%Avg. pay since 2020
#47Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying South Carolina metro areas
Average pay for security guards by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
1770 jobs
Spartanburg, SC
$42,410
$20.39 an hour
2610 jobs
Florence, SC
$41,810
$20.10 an hour
32,190 jobs
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
$39,510
$19.00 an hour
4680 jobs
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
$39,020
$18.76 an hour
590 jobs
Sumter, SC
$38,350
$18.44 an hour
612,020 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$38,340
$18.43 an hour
73,000 jobs
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC
$36,090
$17.35 an hour
85,290 jobs
Columbia, SC
$36,000
$17.31 an hour
93,370 jobs
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
$35,770
$17.20 an hour
101,020 jobs
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
$33,420
$16.07 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Security Guards pay in South Carolina, charted
Pay over time
South Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where South Carolina security guards work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · South Carolina highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $40k$40k–$42k$42k–$45k$45k+South Carolina
South Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| South Carolina | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| Georgia | $37,890 | $18.22 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,170
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,420
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$51,520
- Firefighters$43,900
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers$39,460
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$45,790
Average pay, South Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do security guards make in South Carolina?
The average is $37,060 a year, and the median is $35,460. That is $5,410 (13%) less than the U.S. average of $42,470.
What is the hourly wage in South Carolina?
$17.82 an hour on average; the median is $17.05.
Where in South Carolina do they earn the most?
Spartanburg, SC ($42,410), followed by Florence, SC ($41,810). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC ($33,420).
How does South Carolina rank?
South Carolina ranks #47 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 33-9032. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national security guards page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.