Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Columbus, OH
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $58,040 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,001 take-home, or $4,000 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,785
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$842
- Ohio income tax$814
- Take-home pay$48,001
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,451 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $46,550 ($3,879 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,090 | $23.12 | $40,280 | $3,357 |
| 25th percentile | $49,480 | $23.79 | $41,359 | $3,447 |
| Median (50th) | $58,040 | $27.90 | $48,001 | $4,000 |
| 75th percentile | $67,350 | $32.38 | $55,141 | $4,595 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,060 | $32.72 | $55,621 | $4,635 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,040 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $48,001 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,280 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 about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $58,040 | $48,001 | $50,280 |
*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.
Correctional Officer and Jailer salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $59,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make in Columbus, OH?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $58,040 a year, or about $27.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,480 and $67,350.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $58,040 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $48,001 a year ($4,000 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $814 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,280 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #12 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 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 Columbus, OH
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $100,890
- Firefighter — $61,780
- Security Guard — $35,800