Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median $58,940 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$58,940
$28.34 per hour
Range
$42,760 – $93,220
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
380,500
across the U.S.
▲1.7%
Pay trend: The median for correctional officers and jailers in the U.S. rose from $57,970 (May 2024) to $58,940 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.7%.
What correctional officers and jailers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 28,400
Employment of correctional officers and jailers is projected to shrink 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 28,400 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.
Correctional Officer and Jailer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$49,538
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,128Monthly
$2,064Twice a month
$1,905Every 2 weeks
$23.82Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,893
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,654
- Medicare (1.45%)$855
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,538
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,760 | $20.56 | $36,538 |
| 25th percentile | $48,640 | $23.38 | $41,262 |
| Median (50th) | $58,940 | $28.34 | $49,538 |
| 75th percentile | $75,850 | $36.47 | $62,190 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,220 | $44.82 | $74,410 |
Best cities for correctional officers and jailers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,220 | $77,124 | $76,446 | 3,280 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $94,010 | $69,231 | $67,768 | 2,660 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $94,730 | $69,661 | $65,445 | 4,800 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $93,220 | $69,951 | $62,143 | 14,730 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $89,060 | $67,251 | $62,116 | 4,510 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $84,550 | $64,270 | $62,040 | 4,940 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $78,770 | $60,125 | $52,942 | 6,070 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,200 | $54,042 | $52,696 | 5,570 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $59,370 | $49,033 | $52,206 | 2,390 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $69,640 | $54,610 | $52,097 | 2,670 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $70,570 | $55,335 | $50,821 | 3,200 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $58,040 | $48,001 | $50,280 | 2,540 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $64,250 | $51,117 | $48,922 | 3,110 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $66,770 | $55,803 | $48,883 | 5,010 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $58,930 | $49,530 | $48,046 | 5,170 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $53,810 | $45,416 | $46,048 | 8,650 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,280 | $46,981 | $45,473 | 8,920 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $49,380 | $39,917 | $39,894 | 2,910 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Bakersfield, CA — $107,220
- Riverside, CA — $94,730
- Fresno, CA — $94,010
- New York, NY — $93,220
- Boston, MA — $89,060
- Chicago, IL — $84,550
- Los Angeles, CA — $78,770
- Washington, DC — $70,570
- Minneapolis, MN — $69,640
- Philadelphia, PA — $67,200
- Miami, FL — $66,770
- Baltimore, MD — $64,250
- Cleveland, OH — $59,370
- Dallas, TX — $58,930
- Columbus, OH — $58,040
Correctional Officer and Jailer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $96,370 | +0.6% | $70,641 | $63,380 – $114,730 | 37,860 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 | +5.1% | $71,654 | $51,410 – $106,570 | 7,570 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 | +9.5% | $65,454 | $63,520 – $101,620 | 6,360 |
| Oregon | $83,690 | +0.7% | $61,213 | $64,200 – $95,820 | 3,650 |
| Washington | $79,460 | +4.0% | $64,730 | $64,460 – $95,430 | 6,800 |
| Illinois | $79,190 | +0.6% | $60,765 | $50,520 – $102,770 | 12,190 |
| New York | $76,820 | +2.0% | $59,322 | $58,940 – $93,220 | 27,770 |
| Nevada | $76,490 | −0.4% | $62,641 | $62,150 – $102,610 | 3,240 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 | −1.4% | $58,003 | $56,540 – $92,140 | 7,360 |
| Alaska | $71,360 | +0.0% | $59,032 | $60,340 – $94,930 | 850 |
| Hawaii | $69,570 | +5.0% | $54,015 | $64,250 – $82,240 | 1,310 |
| Utah | $67,290 | +9.7% | $54,106 | $47,700 – $84,680 | 2,050 |
| Minnesota | $66,040 | +2.1% | $52,276 | $54,060 – $82,380 | 5,350 |
| Delaware | $65,880 | +8.0% | $52,108 | $46,520 – $79,260 | 1,730 |
| Connecticut | $64,750 | +3.3% | $52,218 | $55,520 – $70,710 | 3,780 |
| Maryland | $64,250 | +3.0% | $51,117 | $53,100 – $82,280 | 6,060 |
| Michigan | $64,020 | −1.9% | $51,150 | $47,360 – $77,990 | 8,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | −0.1% | $51,222 | $46,840 – $85,630 | 15,560 |
| Nebraska | $63,380 | +1.1% | $51,102 | $47,630 – $78,270 | 3,250 |
| Colorado | $62,140 | +2.4% | $50,084 | $52,370 – $87,690 | 7,290 |
| New Hampshire | $61,360 | −0.1% | $51,483 | $47,480 – $82,240 | 680 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | +0.9% | $49,033 | $46,930 – $68,060 | 12,610 |
| Kansas | $56,120 | +21.8% | $44,941 | $37,000 – $64,940 | 3,380 |
| Arizona | $54,970 | +0.0% | $45,183 | $45,620 – $65,030 | 14,230 |
| Wyoming | $54,780 | +5.9% | $46,196 | $50,340 – $71,010 | 920 |
| Vermont | $53,810 | +9.6% | $44,048 | $46,010 – $71,660 | 450 |
| Idaho | $53,580 | +4.2% | $43,500 | $45,430 – $74,720 | 2,370 |
| Iowa | $53,040 | +3.2% | $43,434 | $47,670 – $73,530 | 3,440 |
| South Dakota | $53,040 | +1.4% | $44,798 | $43,240 – $66,390 | 1,490 |
| West Virginia | $52,890 | +5.8% | $43,028 | $45,390 – $75,610 | 2,980 |
| Maine | $52,730 | +2.8% | $42,171 | $44,640 – $60,510 | 1,090 |
| Texas | $52,670 | +3.2% | $44,500 | $44,870 – $60,550 | 44,700 |
| North Dakota | $52,460 | −5.9% | $44,332 | $47,580 – $62,870 | 1,290 |
| Tennessee | $50,940 | −1.1% | $43,110 | $38,690 – $62,790 | 6,990 |
| North Carolina | $50,550 | +3.0% | $41,289 | $38,850 – $63,150 | 11,900 |
| Virginia | $50,140 | +0.3% | $40,399 | $46,320 – $70,570 | 11,270 |
| Florida | $49,710 | +3.0% | $42,122 | $45,760 – $80,500 | 24,280 |
| Montana | $49,180 | −1.0% | $40,141 | $44,690 – $62,730 | 1,430 |
| Indiana | $48,340 | +5.2% | $39,625 | $41,670 – $61,840 | 8,060 |
| New Mexico | $47,940 | +1.1% | $39,606 | $37,900 – $59,330 | 2,740 |
| South Carolina | $47,890 | −1.2% | $38,943 | $40,090 – $71,390 | 4,870 |
| Georgia | $47,520 | +6.8% | $38,519 | $36,820 – $58,430 | 10,640 |
| Alabama | $46,660 | +0.6% | $37,603 | $30,430 – $74,290 | 4,970 |
| Oklahoma | $45,690 | −0.6% | $37,381 | $34,530 – $58,380 | 3,730 |
| Missouri | $42,620 | +3.2% | $35,359 | $37,210 – $63,940 | 6,670 |
| Kentucky | $42,310 | +5.2% | $34,813 | $29,910 – $61,820 | 6,770 |
| Arkansas | $40,330 | +0.0% | $33,225 | $31,200 – $49,360 | 4,460 |
| Louisiana | $39,850 | −4.7% | $33,390 | $30,770 – $55,260 | 7,960 |
| Mississippi | $38,720 | +5.5% | $32,475 | $27,540 – $55,580 | 4,040 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bailiff | $56,600 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| 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% |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% |
| 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% |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make?
The national median salary for correctional officers and jailers is $58,940 a year ($28.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,760 and the top 10% earn over $93,220. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays correctional officers and jailers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $96,370. After taxes and local prices, Bakersfield, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many correctional officers and jailers are there in the U.S.?
About 380,500 people work as correctional officers and jailers nationwide.