Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Security Guards actually take home in West Virginia?
Progressive (up to 5.1%) — 15.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Security Guards earning $28,800 in West Virginia (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $28,800 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,472 | 5.1% |
| West Virginia State Income Tax | -$843 | 2.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,785 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$417 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$4,518 | 15.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $24,281 | 84.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Security Guards in West Virginia.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $20,800 | -$2,787 | $18,012 | 13.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $20,800 | -$2,787 | $18,012 | 13.4% |
| Median (P50) | $28,800 | -$4,518 | $24,281 | 15.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $35,990 | -$6,185 | $29,804 | 17.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,370 | -$8,911 | $38,458 | 18.8% |
After federal income tax ($1,472), state tax ($843), and FICA ($2,203), a Security Guards in West Virginia takes home $24,281 per year — or $2,023 per month. The effective tax rate of 15.7% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Security Guards in West Virginia faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.7%, keeping 84.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $24,282 net out of $28,800 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
West Virginia uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Security Guards salary the state tax works out to $843 (2.9% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Security Guards salary is $1,472 (33%), but combined state ($843, 19%) + FICA ($2,203, 49%) make up the other 67% of the bill.
A Security Guards earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $25,125 — only $843 (3.5%) more than in West Virginia.
West Virginia sits near the bottom (#51 of 51) for Security Guards after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $24,282 net/year works out to $2,023/month or $934/bi-weekly for this Security Guards in West Virginia — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Security Guards keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
West Virginia ranks #51 out of 51 states for Security Guards after-tax take-home pay.
A Security Guards in West Virginia earning a median salary of $28,800 will take home approximately $24,281 per year after federal income tax ($1,472), state income tax ($843), and FICA ($2,203). That is $2,023 per month or $933 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Security Guards in West Virginia is 15.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.1%, West Virginia state tax 2.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
West Virginia has a progressive (up to 5.1%). On a Security Guards's median salary of $28,800, the state income tax amounts to $843 per year, which is an effective state rate of 2.9%.
After all taxes, a Security Guards in West Virginia takes home approximately $2,023 per month, or about $11.67 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $28,800 for Security Guards in West Virginia, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), West Virginia state income tax (progressive (up to 5.1%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $24,281/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR