Security Guard Salary in Nashville, TN

Updated November 9, 2026

The median security guard in the Nashville area earns $37,010 a year ($17.79 an hour), 3% below the U.S. median ($38,020) and 3% above the Tennessee median ($36,000). Half of the 10,710 security guards there earn between $33,140 and $43,780.

Median $37,010

10th: $30,36090th: $56,270

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median. Dashed: U.S. median.

Security Guards, May 2025 (latest official data). Metro area: Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
Annual pay	Nashville area	Tennessee	U.S.
10th percentile	$30,360	$29,310	$30,210
25th percentile	$33,140	$30,850	$35,210
Median	$37,010	$36,000	$38,020
75th percentile	$43,780	$40,620	$46,200
90th percentile	$56,270	$51,680	$58,840
Average	$40,010	$38,500	$42,470
Jobs	10,710	27,690	1,283,470

Nashville, TN ranks 29th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for security guard pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,490).

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Security guard pay in other cities

Memphis, TN: $35,100
Seattle, WA: $47,490
Washington, DC: $46,830
Portland, OR: $46,820
San Jose, CA: $46,250
San Francisco, CA: $45,730
Denver, CO: $45,420
Boston, MA: $44,990
All cities

Similar jobs in Nashville, TN

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.