Bailiff Salary
Bailiffs earn a median $56,600 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$56,600
$27.21 per hour
Range
$32,140 – $96,770
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
17,310
across the U.S.
▼0.8%
Pay trend: The median for bailiffs in the U.S. fell from $57,050 (May 2024) to $56,600 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 3.2%.
What bailiffs do
Maintain order in courts of law.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.9% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 1,600
Employment of bailiffs is projected to shrink 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Bailiff take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$47,658
per year · effective tax rate 15.8%
$3,972Monthly
$1,986Twice a month
$1,833Every 2 weeks
$22.91Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,612
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,509
- Medicare (1.45%)$821
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$47,658
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,140 | $15.45 | $28,004 |
| 25th percentile | $43,720 | $21.02 | $37,309 |
| Median (50th) | $56,600 | $27.21 | $47,658 |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 | $35.88 | $61,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,770 | $46.52 | $76,908 |
Best cities for bailiffs (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $83,360 | $63,569 | $56,474 | 2,730 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $83,360
Bailiff salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $111,890 | +2.5% | $82,966 | $96,640 – $117,410 | 40 |
| Alaska | $90,600 | −0.1% | $72,567 | $36,120 – $113,820 | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $86,730 | +13.0% | $65,728 | $55,890 – $105,580 | 930 |
| Washington | $78,290 | +19.6% | $63,907 | $37,000 – $100,570 | 180 |
| New York | $77,540 | −4.2% | $59,789 | $56,400 – $96,770 | 3,830 |
| Nebraska | $76,090 | +1.1% | $59,777 | $47,310 – $76,610 | 50 |
| Nevada | $71,230 | −1.2% | $58,940 | $61,050 – $86,910 | 210 |
| Kansas | $69,390 | +5.0% | $54,574 | $58,390 – $82,280 | 450 |
| Colorado | $63,320 | +1.9% | $50,980 | $38,950 – $89,770 | 70 |
| Maine | $62,800 | −3.5% | $49,582 | $50,560 – $64,730 | 110 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | +18.9% | $49,703 | $26,220 – $200,670 | 670 |
| Virginia | $62,290 | +4.7% | $49,462 | $39,160 – $79,850 | 320 |
| Texas | $60,300 | +3.3% | $50,631 | $38,150 – $80,650 | 590 |
| Maryland | $59,470 | +6.3% | $47,503 | $45,750 – $62,920 | 410 |
| Florida | $59,000 | −7.6% | $49,587 | $37,380 – $83,340 | 940 |
| Utah | $57,290 | −1.0% | $46,600 | $52,420 – $79,210 | 40 |
| Oregon | $57,140 | +1.5% | $43,922 | $48,450 – $71,280 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $56,100 | −8.2% | $45,527 | $37,270 – $67,360 | 250 |
| Michigan | $53,810 | −3.8% | $43,380 | $37,000 – $62,500 | 780 |
| Iowa | $52,100 | −1.2% | $42,714 | $27,290 – $70,450 | 60 |
| Ohio | $51,060 | −0.1% | $42,585 | $39,570 – $73,980 | 1,640 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | +0.6% | $41,076 | $38,290 – $74,320 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $49,890 | −1.0% | $40,397 | $45,090 – $60,120 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $48,940 | +5.0% | $39,296 | $45,220 – $64,400 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,600 | −1.2% | $38,965 | $24,610 – $55,240 | 610 |
| Montana | $46,800 | — | $38,341 | $32,410 – $50,400 | 40 |
| Arizona | $46,390 | −0.1% | $38,503 | $39,020 – $60,180 | 270 |
| Illinois | $46,390 | +0.2% | $37,303 | $31,200 – $76,840 | 960 |
| Arkansas | $45,090 | −1.2% | $36,864 | $34,940 – $61,780 | 140 |
| Louisiana | $44,040 | −14.9% | $36,631 | $22,980 – $71,370 | 90 |
| Missouri | $44,040 | +0.8% | $36,434 | $31,780 – $62,400 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $43,690 | — | $36,419 | $36,600 – $69,640 | 50 |
| Indiana | $43,000 | −5.5% | $35,492 | $28,740 – $60,440 | 510 |
| Alabama | $42,300 | +17.1% | $34,318 | $33,050 – $56,600 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $42,000 | — | $34,583 | $42,000 – $52,000 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $41,010 | +10.1% | $35,132 | $37,200 – $52,350 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $39,080 | −0.2% | $32,642 | $26,250 – $69,670 | 250 |
| Wyoming | $38,360 | +6.3% | $33,002 | $35,640 – $69,660 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $38,200 | −4.4% | $32,078 | $24,110 – $52,790 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $36,250 | +4.2% | $30,333 | $29,670 – $41,690 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $35,990 | −1.4% | $31,098 | $30,340 – $49,220 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $34,280 | +13.0% | $28,824 | $21,070 – $61,720 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $30,760 | −9.3% | $25,937 | $28,920 – $44,340 | 760 |
| North Dakota | $27,560 | +0.0% | $24,306 | $27,560 – $55,480 | 170 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.4% |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.1% |
| Fish and Game Warden | $74,060 | Bachelor's degree | -5.7% |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer | $76,210 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.2% |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.2% |
| Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist | $56,870 | High school diploma or equivalent | +13.1% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers | $55,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bailiff make?
The national median salary for bailiffs is $56,600 a year ($27.21 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $32,140 and the top 10% earn over $96,770. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays bailiffs the most?
Connecticut has the highest median pay at $111,890. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many bailiffs are there in the U.S.?
About 17,310 people work as bailiffs nationwide.