Salary data is based on the Fort Smith, AR-OK metropolitan area and applied to Fort Smith using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Security Guards Salaries in Fort Smith, AR

Average Base Pay

$34,241/yr

10% below national average

Monthly

$2,853

Hourly

$16

Cost Index

Security Guards in Fort Smith, AR earn an average of $34,241 per year, with most salaries falling between $27,393 and $41,089 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 10% below the national average, Fort Smith offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 78. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Fort Smith.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$26K
Low

$34K
Median

$43K
High

25th percentile: $29K75th percentile: $39K

About Security Guards

Compliance Officers ensure that organizations adhere to applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies. They identify regulatory requirements that apply to the organization's activities, assess current practices against those requirements, and develop programs that ensure consistent compliance. In financial services, compliance officers monitor trading activity, oversee Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) programs, review marketing materials, and manage regulatory examinations. In healthcare, they ensure compliance with HIPAA, False Claims Act, Stark Law, and Anti-Kickback Statute. In manufacturing and energy, they manage environmental, health, and safety compliance. Compliance officers develop and deliver training programs, draft policies and procedures, conduct internal compliance reviews and audits, and serve as the liaison with regulators during examinations or investigations. When potential violations are identified, they lead internal investigations, remediate the issue, and determine whether self-disclosure is required. The role requires both technical knowledge of applicable regulations and the judgment to assess risk and advise business units on compliant approaches.

What Security Guards Do

Identify and monitor regulatory requirements applicable to the organization
Develop and maintain compliance policies, procedures, and control frameworks
Conduct compliance risk assessments and gap analyses
Design and deliver employee compliance training programs
Perform compliance monitoring and testing of business activities
Manage regulatory examinations and respond to regulator inquiries
Investigate potential compliance violations and recommend remediation
Report compliance status and risk to senior management and board committees

Key Skills & Qualifications

Regulatory knowledge in relevant industry (financial services, healthcare, manufacturing)
Compliance program design and implementation
Risk assessment and internal audit methodology
Policy writing and procedural documentation
Training design and facilitation
Regulatory examination management
Analytical skills for compliance monitoring data
Relevant certifications such as CCEP, CRCM, or CAMS

Career Path

Compliance Analyst
Compliance Officer
Senior Compliance Officer
Compliance Manager / Director of Compliance
Chief Compliance Officer

Security Guards Market in Fort Smith, AR

Salary Competitiveness

Fort Smith currently pays 10% below the national median for Security Guards. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.

Cost of Living Impact

Fort Smith's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 97% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Security Guards earning $34,241 in Fort Smith operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-10%

Cost Pressure

97%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$24,996

Monthly

$2,083

Weekly

$481

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $34,241 for a Security Guards in Fort Smith translates to roughly $2,083 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,020—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $63 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Fort Smith's current market.

How far does this salary go in Fort Smith?

Cost of Living in Fort Smith

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Fort Smith, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,162/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$387/mo

🚗Transportation$105/mo

💡Utilities$136/mo

🏥Healthcare$230/mo

Monthly$2,020

Annual$24,240

Disposable Income$63

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Fort Smith to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,083

Living Costs

$2,020

Disposable

$63

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,083, your estimated living costs in Fort Smith are $2,020 ($24,240/yr). This leaves $63 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Fort Smith's cost of living is 22% below the national average.

Overall, a Security Guards earning $34,241 in Fort Smith falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 78, Fort Smith is 22% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Fort Smith continue to evolve.