$ PaycheckDecoded

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.

Correctional Officer and Jailer take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Correctional Officer and Jailer
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

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

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-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 areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1San Jose, CA$132,670$92,113$83,4181,050
2Vineland, NJ$106,570$79,203$82,5311,090
3Bakersfield, CA$107,220$77,124$76,4463,280
4Stockton, CA$107,220$77,124$73,3891,220
5Salinas, CA$109,620$78,558$72,0431,510
6San Luis Obispo, CA$107,220$77,124$71,019710
7Fresno, CA$94,010$69,231$67,7682,660
8Worcester, MA$91,980$69,159$67,457640
9Las Vegas, NV$81,680$66,292$66,1502,270
10Wildwood, FL$67,770$56,506$66,148980
11Riverside, CA$94,730$69,661$65,4454,800
12Kennewick, WA$79,460$64,730$64,679590
13Spokane, WA$79,460$64,730$64,507630
14Santa Maria, CA$94,740$69,667$64,033470
15San Francisco, CA$99,880$72,738$62,9151,500
16Elmira, NY$76,820$59,322$62,842550
17Sacramento, CA$89,730$66,673$62,5041,920
18New York, NY$93,220$69,951$62,14314,730
19Boston, MA$89,060$67,251$62,1164,510
20Chicago, IL$84,550$64,270$62,0404,940
21Madison, WI$76,250$59,811$61,479610
22Buffalo, NY$76,170$58,899$61,4531,590
23Utica, NY$72,890$56,769$61,2541,300
24Rochester, NY$76,820$59,322$61,1341,390
25Seattle, WA$81,550$66,200$59,5692,170

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Correctional Officer and Jailer salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
California $96,370$70,641 $63,380 – $114,73037,860
New Jersey $94,770$71,654 $51,410 – $106,5707,570
Massachusetts $86,310$65,454 $63,520 – $101,6206,360
Oregon $83,690$61,213 $64,200 – $95,8203,650
Washington $79,460$64,730 $64,460 – $95,4306,800
Illinois $79,190$60,765 $50,520 – $102,77012,190
New York $76,820$59,322 $58,940 – $93,22027,770
Nevada $76,490$62,641 $62,150 – $102,6103,240
Wisconsin $73,470$58,003 $56,540 – $92,1407,360
Alaska $71,360$59,032 $60,340 – $94,930850
Hawaii $69,570$54,015 $64,250 – $82,2401,310
Utah $67,290$54,106 $47,700 – $84,6802,050
Minnesota $66,040$52,276 $54,060 – $82,3805,350
Delaware $65,880$52,108 $46,520 – $79,2601,730
Connecticut $64,750$52,218 $55,520 – $70,7103,780
Maryland $64,250$51,117 $53,100 – $82,2806,060
Michigan $64,020$51,150 $47,360 – $77,9908,220
Pennsylvania $63,460$51,222 $46,840 – $85,63015,560
Nebraska $63,380$51,102 $47,630 – $78,2703,250
Colorado $62,140$50,084 $52,370 – $87,6907,290
New Hampshire $61,360$51,483 $47,480 – $82,240680
Ohio $59,370$49,033 $46,930 – $68,06012,610
Kansas $56,120$44,941 $37,000 – $64,9403,380
Arizona $54,970$45,183 $45,620 – $65,03014,230
Wyoming $54,780$46,196 $50,340 – $71,010920
Vermont $53,810$44,048 $46,010 – $71,660450
Idaho $53,580$43,500 $45,430 – $74,7202,370
Iowa $53,040$43,434 $47,670 – $73,5303,440
South Dakota $53,040$44,798 $43,240 – $66,3901,490
West Virginia $52,890$43,028 $45,390 – $75,6102,980
Maine $52,730$42,171 $44,640 – $60,5101,090
Texas $52,670$44,500 $44,870 – $60,55044,700
North Dakota $52,460$44,332 $47,580 – $62,8701,290
Tennessee $50,940$43,110 $38,690 – $62,7906,990
North Carolina $50,550$41,289 $38,850 – $63,15011,900
Virginia $50,140$40,399 $46,320 – $70,57011,270
Florida $49,710$42,122 $45,760 – $80,50024,280
Montana $49,180$40,141 $44,690 – $62,7301,430
Indiana $48,340$39,625 $41,670 – $61,8408,060
New Mexico $47,940$39,606 $37,900 – $59,3302,740
South Carolina $47,890$38,943 $40,090 – $71,3904,870
Georgia $47,520$38,519 $36,820 – $58,43010,640
Alabama $46,660$37,603 $30,430 – $74,2904,970
Oklahoma $45,690$37,381 $34,530 – $58,3803,730
Missouri $42,620$35,359 $37,210 – $63,9406,670
Kentucky $42,310$34,813 $29,910 – $61,8206,770
Arkansas $40,330$33,225 $31,200 – $49,3604,460
Louisiana $39,850$33,390 $30,770 – $55,2607,960
Mississippi $38,720$32,475 $27,540 – $55,5804,040

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, San Jose, 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.

All 131 cities