Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $78,770 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,125 take-home, or $5,010 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,499
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,884
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,142
- California income tax$3,096
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,024
- Take-home pay$60,125
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,180 | $28.93 | $48,092 | $4,008 |
| 25th percentile | $75,840 | $36.46 | $58,342 | $4,862 |
| Median (50th) | $78,770 | $37.87 | $60,125 | $5,010 |
| 75th percentile | $98,020 | $47.13 | $71,627 | $5,969 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,580 | $52.68 | $78,534 | $6,544 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,770 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $60,125 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,942 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 Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.40), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 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.
Correctional Officer and Jailer salaries elsewhere in California
- Bakersfield, CA — $107,220
- Fresno, CA — $94,010
- Riverside, CA — $94,730
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $78,770 a year, or about $37.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,840 and $98,020.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $78,770 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,125 a year ($5,010 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,120 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,942 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #7 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $169,350
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $167,600
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $127,890
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $121,980
- Firefighter — $98,050
- Transportation Security Screener — $73,610
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $55,700
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,900
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,800
- Security Guard — $40,030
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $37,290