Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Houston, TX
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $53,810 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,416 take-home, or $3,785 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,277
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,336
- Medicare (1.45%)$780
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$45,416
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,660 | $22.91 | $40,475 | $3,373 |
| 25th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 | $41,455 | $3,455 |
| Median (50th) | $53,810 | $25.87 | $45,416 | $3,785 |
| 75th percentile | $57,330 | $27.56 | $48,245 | $4,020 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,620 | $28.18 | $49,281 | $4,107 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $53,810 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $45,416 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,048 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $53,810 | $45,416 | $46,048 |
*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 Texas
- Dallas, TX — $58,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make in Houston, TX?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $53,810 a year, or about $25.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,880 and $57,330.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $53,810 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $45,416 a year ($3,785 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,048 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #16 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $74,570
- Firefighter — $59,120
- Security Guard — $35,460