Security Guards pay in Tennessee
$38,500avg. a year
$18.51 an hour · 27,690 employed
Security Guards in Tennessee earn an average of $38,500 a year. That is $3,970 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $42,470. The best-paying metro area is Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $40,010.
$36,000Median pay
$18.51Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#43Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Tennessee metro areas
Average pay for security guards by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
110,710 jobs
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
$40,010
$19.24 an hour
22,860 jobs
Knoxville, TN
$39,730
$19.10 an hour
3340 jobs
Clarksville, TN-KY
$39,480
$18.98 an hour
41,820 jobs
Chattanooga, TN-GA
$38,910
$18.71 an hour
5500 jobs
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
$38,870
$18.69 an hour
6460 jobs
Jackson, TN
$36,850
$17.71 an hour
7100 jobs
Cleveland, TN
$36,660
$17.62 an hour
88,450 jobs
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
$36,570
$17.58 an hour
970 jobs
Morristown, TN
$34,170
$16.43 an hour
10570 jobs
Johnson City, TN
$31,360
$15.08 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 Tennessee, charted
Pay over time
Tennessee, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Tennessee security guards work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Tennessee highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $40k$40k–$42k$42k–$45k$45k+Tennessee
Tennessee vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $42,470 | $20.42 |
| Tennessee | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Virginia | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Missouri | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| North Carolina | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| Kentucky | $38,540 | $18.53 |
| Arkansas | $38,300 | $18.41 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
Average pay, Tennessee, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do security guards make in Tennessee?
The average is $38,500 a year, and the median is $36,000. That is $3,970 (9%) less than the U.S. average of $42,470.
What is the hourly wage in Tennessee?
$18.51 an hour on average; the median is $17.31.
Where in Tennessee do they earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($40,010), followed by Knoxville, TN ($39,730). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Johnson City, TN ($31,360).
How does Tennessee rank?
Tennessee ranks #43 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.