How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers make?
Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median annual salary of $58,940 in the United States, which works out to roughly $28.34 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $42,760 at the entry level and $93,220 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $48,640 and $75,850 a year.
That is $2,450 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary range by percentile
Half of all Correctional Officers and Jailers earn between $48,640 and $75,850 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,760 | $20.56 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,640 | $23.38 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,940 | $28.34 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $75,850 | $36.47 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,220 | $44.82 |
Highest-paying states for Correctional Officers and Jailers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay at $96,370 a year, followed by New Jersey ($94,770) and Massachusetts ($86,310). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $38,720 — a gap of $57,650 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $96,370 | $46.33 | +64% |
| 2 | New Jersey | $94,770 | $45.56 | +61% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,310 | $41.50 | +46% |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,690 | $40.24 | +42% |
| 5 | Washington | $79,460 | $38.20 | +35% |
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 381,000 people work as Correctional Officers and Jailers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $63,630 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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