BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Security Guards in Arkansas

$38,300 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$18.41 per hour

▼ 9.8% below U.S. average44th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$38,300per year
Median$35,770per year
Hourly$18.41per hour
10th – 90th percentile$28,870 – $57,410per year

Security Guards Pay Range in Arkansas

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,870
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$29,750
  • 50th Percentile — Median$35,770
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$41,210
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$57,410

Half of Security Guards in Arkansas earn more than $35,770. The top 10% make $57,410 or more, while entry-level workers start around $28,870.

Security Guards in Arkansas: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Arkansas ranks 44th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $38,300 per year (9.8% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
  • 6,390 people work as Security Guards in Arkansas — 0.5% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.59: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Arkansas than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,870; the top 10% earn over $57,410.
  • Hourly equivalent: $18.41 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
  • Among public safety jobs in Arkansas, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($68,840).

Security Guards Job Market in Arkansas

Key factors affecting compensation

Arkansas's key industries are Agriculture, Retail, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $38,300 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Arkansas salary of $38,300 is roughly equivalent to $46,145 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($39,090), Texas ($38,550), Kentucky ($38,540) are the closest alternatives for Security Guards weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Security Guards salary in Arkansas?

The average Security Guards salary in Arkansas is $38,300 per year (median $35,770), which is 9.8% below the national average of $42,470.

How does Arkansas rank for Security Guards pay?

Arkansas ranks 44th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).

How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Arkansas?

The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Arkansas earn about $28,870 per year and the 25th percentile is $29,750.

How much do Security Guards make per hour in Arkansas?

About $18.41 per hour, based on the $38,300 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Security Guards work in Arkansas?

BLS counts 6,390 Security Guards jobs in Arkansas (OEWS May 2025).

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