Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Atlanta, GA
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $49,380 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,917 take-home, or $3,326 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,746
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,062
- Medicare (1.45%)$716
- Georgia income tax$1,940
- Take-home pay$39,917
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,490 | $20.91 | $35,490 | $2,957 |
| 25th percentile | $46,580 | $22.39 | $37,812 | $3,151 |
| Median (50th) | $49,380 | $23.74 | $39,917 | $3,326 |
| 75th percentile | $57,080 | $27.44 | $45,704 | $3,809 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,850 | $28.77 | $47,786 | $3,982 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,380 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $39,917 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,894 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 Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.41), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $49,380 | $39,917 | $39,894 |
*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 Atlanta, GA?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $49,380 a year, or about $23.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,580 and $57,080.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $49,380 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $39,917 a year ($3,326 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,940 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,894 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #18 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $81,860
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $69,900
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,910
- Firefighter — $47,300
- Security Guard — $35,150