Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Chicago, IL
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $84,550 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,270 take-home, or $5,356 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,771
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,242
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,226
- Illinois income tax$4,040
- Take-home pay$64,270
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,000 | $29.33 | $48,319 | $4,027 |
| 25th percentile | $67,760 | $32.58 | $53,290 | $4,441 |
| Median (50th) | $84,550 | $40.65 | $64,270 | $5,356 |
| 75th percentile | $94,770 | $45.56 | $70,954 | $5,913 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,990 | $46.15 | $71,752 | $5,979 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,550 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $64,270 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,040 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.45), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #6 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 Chicago, IL?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $84,550 a year, or about $40.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $67,760 and $94,770.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $84,550 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $64,270 a year ($5,356 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,040 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,040 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #6 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $126,200
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $107,810
- Firefighter — $82,820
- Security Guard — $39,990
- School Bus Monitor — $33,890
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $33,750