Security Guards Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,450
- 25th Percentile — Junior$31,440
- 50th Percentile — Median$35,420
- 75th Percentile — Senior$40,370
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$50,800
Half of Security Guards in Kentucky earn more than $35,420. The top 10% make $50,800 or more, while entry-level workers start around $28,450.
Security Guards in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $38,540 per year (9.3% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 13,580 people work as Security Guards in Kentucky — 1.1% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 0.82: Security Guards jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,450; the top 10% earn over $50,800.
- Hourly equivalent: $18.53 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($88,030).
Security Guards Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Security Guards here earn $38,540 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $38,540 is roughly equivalent to $46,434 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Nevada ($39,770), Oklahoma ($39,560), North Carolina ($39,090) are the closest alternatives for Security Guards weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $88,030/yr Kentucky +128.4% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $86,900/yr Kentucky +125.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $67,280/yr Kentucky +74.6% vs this role
- Police Officers $59,840/yr Kentucky +55.3% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $51,130/yr Kentucky +32.7% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $44,870/yr Kentucky +16.4% vs this role
- Firefighters $42,100/yr Kentucky +9.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Kentucky?
The average Security Guards salary in Kentucky is $38,540 per year (median $35,420), which is 9.3% below the national average of $42,470.
How does Kentucky rank for Security Guards pay?
Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Kentucky earn about $28,450 per year and the 25th percentile is $31,440.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Kentucky?
About $18.53 per hour, based on the $38,540 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 13,580 Security Guards jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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