Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $67,200 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,042 take-home, or $4,504 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,954
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,166
- Medicare (1.45%)$974
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,063
- Take-home pay$54,042
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,513 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $51,529 ($4,294 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Correctional Officer and Jailer pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,520 | $23.81 | $40,449 | $3,371 |
| 25th percentile | $56,160 | $27.00 | $45,580 | $3,798 |
| Median (50th) | $67,200 | $32.31 | $54,042 | $4,504 |
| 75th percentile | $79,260 | $38.11 | $62,156 | $5,180 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,770 | $45.56 | $72,591 | $6,049 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $67,200 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $54,042 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,696 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 Philadelphia, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officer and jailer make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $67,200 a year, or about $32.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,160 and $79,260.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $67,200 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $54,042 a year ($4,504 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,063 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,696 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $119,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $89,580
- Firefighter — $78,050
- Security Guard — $37,450
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,350
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $35,060
- School Bus Monitor — $34,620
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,220