Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Boston, MA
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $89,060 a year — 51% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,251 take-home, or $5,604 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,763
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,522
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,291
- Massachusetts income tax$4,233
- Take-home pay$67,251
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,030 | $31.26 | $51,400 | $4,283 |
| 25th percentile | $76,150 | $36.61 | $58,814 | $4,901 |
| Median (50th) | $89,060 | $42.82 | $67,251 | $5,604 |
| 75th percentile | $91,980 | $44.22 | $69,159 | $5,763 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,620 | $48.86 | $75,459 | $6,288 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,060 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $67,251 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,116 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Correctional Officer and Jailer jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,220 | $77,124 | $76,446 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $94,010 | $69,231 | $67,768 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $94,730 | $69,661 | $65,445 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $93,220 | $69,951 | $62,143 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $89,060 | $67,251 | $62,116 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $84,550 | $64,270 | $62,040 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $78,770 | $60,125 | $52,942 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,200 | $54,042 | $52,696 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: correctional officers and jailers
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point.
- 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
- -7.4% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make in Boston, MA?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $89,060 a year, or about $42.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,150 and $91,980.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $89,060 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $67,251 a year ($5,604 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,233 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 51% above the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,116 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,180
- Firefighter — $73,990
- Security Guard — $44,990