Security Guard salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A security guard in Tennessee earns a median of $36,000 a year ($17.31/hour equivalent), 5.3% below the national median of $38,020. Tennessee ranks #39 of 51 states. About 27,690 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $31,106 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $1,196 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,384.62
- Federal income tax
- −$82.31
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$85.85
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.08
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,196.38
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,000
- Federal
- $2,140
- FICA
- $2,754
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $31,106
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Tennessee compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| #2 | Alaska | $47,480 |
| #3 | Washington | $47,100 |
| #4 | Vermont | $45,550 |
| #5 | Oregon | $45,500 |
| #39 | Tennessee | $36,000 |
| #49 | Louisiana | $32,240 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,180 |
| #51 | West Virginia | $28,800 |
See the national security guard salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Security Guards (SOC 33-9032), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $36,000 a year and the average is $38,500 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for security guards?
Tennessee ranks #39 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% below the national median of $38,020.
What is $36,000 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $31,106 a year ($1,196 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.