How much does a security guard make in Columbia?

$35,140a year

Median yearly pay for security guards in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $16.89 an hour or $2,928 a month.

Hourly: $16.89
Vs. national median: -8%
Rank among cities: 278 of 389
Jobs in the area: 5,290

Pay range

Lowest 10%: $28,120Median: $35,140Highest 10%: $45,790

Percentile	Yearly	Hourly
10th	$28,120	$13.52
25th	$30,130	$14.49
Median	$35,140	$16.89
75th	$37,900	$18.22
90th	$45,790	$22.01

Other cities in South Carolina

Median yearly pay for security guards.

Florence, SC	$39,060
Hilton Head Island, SC	$36,810
Charleston, SC	$36,620
Spartanburg, SC	$36,350
Greenville, SC	$35,760
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 Columbia

Same field, median yearly pay.

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer	$85,820
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective	$73,450
Detective and Criminal Investigator	$66,340
Transportation Security Screener	$64,150
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker	$61,830
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer	$59,260
Protective Service Worker	$51,630
Private Detective and Investigator	$48,000
Correctional Officer and Jailer	$44,860
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker	$43,140

Salaries for every job in Columbia, SC

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $16.89 ($35,140 a year).

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

No: $35,140 against $38,020 nationally, 8% less.

How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?

The median in South Carolina is $35,460, so Columbia pays 1% less.

Where does Columbia rank for security guard pay?

278 of 389 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $28,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,790 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.