Security Guards Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,990
- 25th Percentile — Junior$35,990
- 50th Percentile — Median$43,640
- 75th Percentile — Senior$54,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$73,060
Half of Security Guards in Virginia earn more than $43,640. The top 10% make $73,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $30,990.
Security Guards in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 6th of 51 states for Security Guards pay, at $47,070 per year (10.8% above the U.S. average of $42,470).
- 34,870 people work as Security Guards in Virginia — 2.7% of all U.S. Security Guards jobs.
- Location quotient 1.03: Security Guards jobs are more concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,990; the top 10% earn over $73,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $22.63 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $60,720.
- Among public safety jobs in Virginia, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($119,620).
Security Guards Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Security Guards here earn $47,070 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $47,070 is roughly equivalent to $42,791 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($54,140), Vermont ($50,770), Washington ($50,770) 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 Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $119,620/yr Virginia +154.1% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $112,200/yr Virginia +138.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $93,750/yr Virginia +99.2% vs this role
- Police Officers $70,450/yr Virginia +49.7% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $61,940/yr Virginia +31.6% vs this role
- Firefighters $58,240/yr Virginia +23.7% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $54,450/yr Virginia +15.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Security Guards salary in Virginia?
The average Security Guards salary in Virginia is $47,070 per year (median $43,640), which is 10.8% above the national average of $42,470.
How does Virginia rank for Security Guards pay?
Virginia ranks 6th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($60,720/yr).
How much do entry-level Security Guards make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Security Guards in Virginia earn about $30,990 per year and the 25th percentile is $35,990.
How much do Security Guards make per hour in Virginia?
About $22.63 per hour, based on the $47,070 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Security Guards work in Virginia?
BLS counts 34,870 Security Guards jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data