BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Security Guards in Mississippi

$31,750 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$15.26 per hour

▼ 25.2% below U.S. average50th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$31,750per year
Median$29,180per year
Hourly$15.26per hour
10th – 90th percentile$21,690 – $42,580per year

Security Guards Pay Range in Mississippi

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$21,690
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$26,940
  • 50th Percentile — Median$29,180
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$35,430
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$42,580

Half of Security Guards in Mississippi earn more than $29,180. The top 10% make $42,580 or more, while entry-level workers start around $21,690.

Security Guards in Mississippi: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Mississippi ranks 50th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $31,750 per year (25.2% below the U.S. average of $42,470).
  • 10,160 people work as Security Guards in Mississippi — 0.8% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.06: Security Guards jobs are more concentrated in Mississippi than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $21,690; the top 10% earn over $42,580.
  • Hourly equivalent: $15.26 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
  • Among public safety jobs in Mississippi, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($71,020).

Security Guards Job Market in Mississippi

Key factors affecting compensation

Mississippi's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and its job market is rated low. Security Guards here earn $31,750 on average, placing the state 50th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.8 (U.S. = 1.00), a Mississippi salary of $31,750 is roughly equivalent to $39,688 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Florida ($37,610), South Carolina ($37,060), Louisiana ($36,080) 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 Mississippi?

The average Security Guards salary in Mississippi is $31,750 per year (median $29,180), which is 25.2% below the national average of $42,470.

How does Mississippi rank for Security Guards pay?

Mississippi ranks 50th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).

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

The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Mississippi earn about $21,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $26,940.

How much do Security Guards make per hour in Mississippi?

About $15.26 per hour, based on the $31,750 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Security Guards work in Mississippi?

BLS counts 10,160 Security Guards jobs in Mississippi (OEWS May 2025).

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