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How much does a security guard make in Charleston?

$36,620a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $17.61 an hour or $3,052 a month.

Hourly
$17.61
Vs. national median
-4%
Rank among cities
209 of 389
Jobs in the area
2,190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,950Median: $36,620Highest 10%: $52,380
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$29,950$14.40
25th$34,370$16.52
Median$36,620$17.61
75th$42,410$20.39
90th$52,380$25.18

Other cities in South Carolina

Median yearly pay for security guards.

Florence, SC$39,060
Hilton Head Island, SC$36,810
Spartanburg, SC$36,350
Greenville, SC$35,760
Columbia, SC$35,140
Charlotte, NC$35,010
Sumter, SC$34,660
Augusta, GA$33,450
Myrtle Beach, SC$31,480
Security Guard salary in South Carolina Security Guard salary in all states

Related jobs in Charleston

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$81,800
Detective and Criminal Investigator$78,410
Crossing Guard and Flagger$73,990
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$73,280
Transportation Security Screener$61,110
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$60,570
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$58,720
Correctional Officer and Jailer$52,300
Protective Service Worker$51,890
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$51,800
Salaries for every job in Charleston, SC

Frequently asked questions

How much does a security guard make an hour in Charleston?

The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $17.61 ($36,620 a year).

Do security guards make more in Charleston than the national average?

No: $36,620 against $38,020 nationally, 4% less.

How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?

The median in South Carolina is $35,460, so Charleston pays 3% more.

Where does Charleston rank for security guard pay?

209 of 389 metro areas with data.

How much does a security guard make starting out in Charleston?

The lowest-paid 10% make $29,950 or less a year; the top 10% make $52,380 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.