Correctional Officer and Jailer Salary in Washington, DC
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $70,570 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,335 take-home, or $4,611 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median correctional officer and jailer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,695
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,375
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,023
- District of Columbia income tax$3,141
- Take-home pay$55,335
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,560 | $26.23 | $43,911 | $3,659 |
| 25th percentile | $59,770 | $28.74 | $47,767 | $3,981 |
| Median (50th) | $70,570 | $33.93 | $55,335 | $4,611 |
| 75th percentile | $77,010 | $37.02 | $59,429 | $4,952 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,340 | $46.80 | $72,003 | $6,000 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,570 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median correctional officer and jailer's $55,335 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,821 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.42), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $70,570 | $55,335 | $50,821 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median correctional officer and jailer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $70,570 a year, or about $33.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,770 and $77,010.
What is a correctional officer and jailer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $70,570 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $55,335 a year ($4,611 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,141 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a correctional officer and jailer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $58,940. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,821 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #11 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a correctional officer and jailer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median correctional officer and jailer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $156,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $125,960
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $118,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $84,000
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $73,490
- Firefighter — $66,980
- Security Guard — $46,830
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,710