33 Series · SOC 33-3012
Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $58,940
- Median / year
- $93,220
- Top 10% earn
- -7.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 380,500
- US workers
Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median of $58,940 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,940, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $42,760 (10th percentile) to $93,220 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 380,500 US workers. California pays the most ($96,370), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median of $58,940, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 46% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #12 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 7.8% by 2033.
- $58,940
- Median annual wage
- Top 54%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #12 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $96,370. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) pays a national median of $58,940 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th, with a mean of $63,630 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 380,500 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 409 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -7.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 30,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 8 per 100,000 and injury rate of 6 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $96,370, which is +64% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $132,670 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 380,500 jobs Median $58,940/yr
Median Salary
$58,940
per year
Median Hourly
$28.34/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$63,630
average
Employment
380,500
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Correctional Officers and Jailers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$58,940 Bottom 46% higher than 46% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Correctional Officers and Jailers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Correctional Officers and Jailers sits on the slower-growing side at -7.8% growth and $58,940 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-7.8%
Declining
Annual Openings
30,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → C
Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8/100K
Injury Rate
6/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Correctional Officers and Jailers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Speaking 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.8
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Coordination 3.5
Persuasion 3.4
Active Learning 3.3
Negotiation 3.3
Knowledge Areas
Public Safety and Security 4.1
English Language 4.0
Law and Government 3.8
Customer and Personal Service 3.5
Administration and Management 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.4
Psychology 3.4
Administrative 3.4
Education and Training 3.4
Telecommunications 3.2
Key Tasks
- ▸ Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- ▸ Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- ▸ Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
- ▸ Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- ▸ Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- ▸ Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
- ▸ Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- ▸ Search for and recapture escapees.
- ▸ Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
- ▸ Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$42,760
25th Percentile
$48,640
Median
$58,940
75th Percentile
$75,850
90th Percentile
$93,220
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $96,370 | +64% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $94,770 | +61% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,310 | +46% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,690 | +42% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $79,460 | +35% above national |
| 6 | Illinois | $79,190 | +34% above national |
| 7 | New York | $76,820 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Nevada | $76,490 | +30% above national |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $73,470 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Alaska | $71,360 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Hawaii | $69,570 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Utah | $67,290 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Minnesota | $66,040 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Delaware | $65,880 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Connecticut | $64,750 | +10% above national |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,250 | +9% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $64,020 | +9% above national |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $63,460 | +8% above national |
| 19 | Nebraska | $63,380 | +8% above national |
| 20 | Colorado | $62,140 | +5% above national |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $61,360 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Ohio | $59,370 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Kansas | $56,120 | 5% below national |
| 24 | Arizona | $54,970 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Wyoming | $54,780 | 7% below national |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,810 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Idaho | $53,580 | 9% below national |
| 28 | Iowa | $53,040 | 10% below national |
| 29 | South Dakota | $53,040 | 10% below national |
| 30 | West Virginia | $52,890 | 10% below national |
| 31 | Maine | $52,730 | 11% below national |
| 32 | Texas | $52,670 | 11% below national |
| 33 | North Dakota | $52,460 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $50,940 | 14% below national |
| 35 | North Carolina | $50,550 | 14% below national |
| 36 | Virginia | $50,140 | 15% below national |
| 37 | Florida | $49,710 | 16% below national |
| 38 | Montana | $49,180 | 17% below national |
| 39 | Indiana | $48,340 | 18% below national |
| 40 | New Mexico | $47,940 | 19% below national |
| 41 | South Carolina | $47,890 | 19% below national |
| 42 | Georgia | $47,520 | 19% below national |
| 43 | Alabama | $46,660 | 21% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $45,690 | 22% below national |
| 45 | Missouri | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 46 | Kentucky | $42,310 | 28% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $40,330 | 32% below national |
| 48 | Louisiana | $39,850 | 32% below national |
| 49 | Mississippi | $38,720 | 34% below national |
| 50 | Puerto Rico | $36,030 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 409 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $132,670 | +125% above national |
| 2 | Salinas, CA | $109,620 | +86% above national |
| 3 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $107,220 | +82% above national |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,220 | +82% above national |
| 5 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $107,220 | +82% above national |
| 6 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $107,220 | +82% above national |
| 7 | Vineland, NJ | $106,570 | +81% above national |
| 8 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $101,080 | +71% above national |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,880 | +69% above national |
| 10 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $98,730 | +68% above national |
| 11 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $94,740 | +61% above national |
| 12 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,730 | +61% above national |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $94,010 | +60% above national |
| 14 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,220 | +58% above national |
| 15 | Worcester, MA | $91,980 | +56% above national |
| 16 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $89,730 | +52% above national |
| 17 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $89,060 | +51% above national |
| 18 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $87,660 | +49% above national |
| 19 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $84,640 | +44% above national |
| 20 | Barnstable Town, MA | $84,610 | +44% above national |
| 21 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $84,550 | +43% above national |
| 22 | Salem, OR | $83,690 | +42% above national |
| 23 | Bellingham, WA | $83,030 | +41% above national |
| 24 | Bend, OR | $81,770 | +39% above national |
| 25 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $81,720 | +39% above national |
| 26 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $81,680 | +39% above national |
| 27 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $81,550 | +38% above national |
| 28 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $81,550 | +38% above national |
| 29 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $80,950 | +37% above national |
| 30 | Missoula, MT | $79,720 | +35% above national |
| 31 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $79,630 | +35% above national |
| 32 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $79,460 | +35% above national |
| 33 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $79,460 | +35% above national |
| 34 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $79,190 | +34% above national |
| 35 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,190 | +34% above national |
| 36 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,190 | +34% above national |
| 37 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,770 | +34% above national |
| 38 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $78,670 | +33% above national |
| 39 | Merced, CA | $78,370 | +33% above national |
| 40 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $77,700 | +32% above national |
| 41 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $77,480 | +31% above national |
| 42 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $77,190 | +31% above national |
| 43 | Elmira, NY | $76,820 | +30% above national |
| 44 | Rochester, NY | $76,820 | +30% above national |
| 45 | Green Bay, WI | $76,250 | +29% above national |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $76,250 | +29% above national |
| 47 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,170 | +29% above national |
| 48 | Yakima, WA | $76,070 | +29% above national |
| 49 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $75,570 | +28% above national |
| 50 | Eau Claire, WI | $75,480 | +28% above national |
| 51 | Greeley, CO | $75,330 | +28% above national |
| 52 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $75,240 | +28% above national |
| 53 | Carson City, NV | $74,910 | +27% above national |
| 54 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,390 | +26% above national |
| 55 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,390 | +26% above national |
| 56 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $73,920 | +25% above national |
| 57 | Grand Junction, CO | $73,150 | +24% above national |
| 58 | Alexandria, LA | $72,920 | +24% above national |
| 59 | Utica-Rome, NY | $72,890 | +24% above national |
| 60 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $72,890 | +24% above national |
| 61 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $72,890 | +24% above national |
| 62 | Syracuse, NY | $72,060 | +22% above national |
| 63 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,570 | +20% above national |
| 64 | Glens Falls, NY | $69,840 | +18% above national |
| 65 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $69,700 | +18% above national |
| 66 | Springfield, MA | $69,650 | +18% above national |
| 67 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,640 | +18% above national |
| 68 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $69,570 | +18% above national |
| 69 | Reading, PA | $69,400 | +18% above national |
| 70 | Anchorage, AK | $68,850 | +17% above national |
| 71 | Ann Arbor, MI | $68,520 | +16% above national |
| 72 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $68,520 | +16% above national |
| 73 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $68,050 | +15% above national |
| 74 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $67,920 | +15% above national |
| 75 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $67,770 | +15% above national |
| 76 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $67,610 | +15% above national |
| 77 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $67,400 | +14% above national |
| 78 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $67,290 | +14% above national |
| 79 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $67,200 | +14% above national |
| 80 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $67,060 | +14% above national |
| 81 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $66,770 | +13% above national |
| 82 | State College, PA | $66,730 | +13% above national |
| 83 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $66,270 | +12% above national |
| 84 | Lincoln, NE | $66,210 | +12% above national |
| 85 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $66,150 | +12% above national |
| 86 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,910 | +12% above national |
| 87 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $65,870 | +12% above national |
| 88 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $65,660 | +11% above national |
| 89 | Appleton, WI | $65,540 | +11% above national |
| 90 | Rochester, MN | $65,350 | +11% above national |
| 91 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $65,340 | +11% above national |
| 92 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $64,940 | +10% above national |
| 93 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $64,750 | +10% above national |
| 94 | Mobile, AL | $64,690 | +10% above national |
| 95 | Peoria, IL | $64,540 | +10% above national |
| 96 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $64,540 | +10% above national |
| 97 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $64,250 | +9% above national |
| 98 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $64,250 | +9% above national |
| 99 | Salisbury, MD | $64,250 | +9% above national |
| 100 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $64,250 | +9% above national |
| 101 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $64,080 | +9% above national |
| 102 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $64,020 | +9% above national |
| 103 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $63,910 | +8% above national |
| 104 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $63,860 | +8% above national |
| 105 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $63,820 | +8% above national |
| 106 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $63,460 | +8% above national |
| 107 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $63,460 | +8% above national |
| 108 | Omaha, NE-IA | $63,380 | +8% above national |
| 109 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $63,280 | +7% above national |
| 110 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $63,230 | +7% above national |
| 111 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $62,940 | +7% above national |
| 112 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $62,910 | +7% above national |
| 113 | Grand Island, NE | $62,470 | +6% above national |
| 114 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,400 | +6% above national |
| 115 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,390 | +6% above national |
| 116 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $62,270 | +6% above national |
| 117 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $61,800 | +5% above national |
| 118 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $61,800 | +5% above national |
| 119 | Jacksonville, FL | $61,770 | +5% above national |
| 120 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,700 | +5% above national |
| 121 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $61,540 | +4% above national |
| 122 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,390 | +4% above national |
| 123 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,210 | +4% above national |
| 124 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,210 | +4% above national |
| 125 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,000 | +3% above national |
| 126 | Traverse City, MI | $60,760 | +3% above national |
| 127 | Springfield, IL | $60,590 | +3% above national |
| 128 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,540 | +3% above national |
| 129 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $59,980 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $59,970 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $59,790 | +1% above national |
| 132 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $59,670 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Topeka, KS | $59,650 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Pueblo, CO | $59,600 | +1% above national |
| 135 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $59,470 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Lancaster, PA | $59,430 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Bloomington, IN | $59,380 | +1% above national |
| 138 | Cleveland, OH | $59,370 | +1% above national |
| 139 | Lima, OH | $59,240 | +1% above national |
| 140 | Mankato, MN | $59,240 | +1% above national |
| 141 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $59,240 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $58,950 | same as national |
| 143 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $58,940 | same as national |
| 144 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,930 | same as national |
| 145 | Toledo, OH | $58,480 | 1% below national |
| 146 | Ames, IA | $58,410 | 1% below national |
| 147 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $58,290 | 1% below national |
| 148 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $58,210 | 1% below national |
| 149 | Columbus, OH | $58,040 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $58,020 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Redding, CA | $57,960 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Flagstaff, AZ | $57,790 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Fort Wayne, IN | $57,700 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Dubuque, IA | $57,680 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $57,600 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Birmingham, AL | $57,570 | 2% below national |
| 157 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,570 | 2% below national |
| 158 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $57,280 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $57,280 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $57,100 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Colorado Springs, CO | $57,080 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $56,700 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Rockford, IL | $56,650 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Greenville, NC | $56,610 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Johnstown, PA | $56,450 | 4% below national |
| 166 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Evansville, IN | $56,330 | 4% below national |
| 168 | Wichita, KS | $56,270 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Ogden, UT | $56,080 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Twin Falls, ID | $55,920 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $55,880 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $55,840 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $55,640 | 6% below national |
| 174 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $55,580 | 6% below national |
| 175 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,460 | 6% below national |
| 176 | Montgomery, AL | $55,360 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $54,970 | 7% below national |
| 178 | Tucson, AZ | $54,970 | 7% below national |
| 179 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $54,930 | 7% below national |
| 180 | Boise City, ID | $54,830 | 7% below national |
| 181 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $54,600 | 7% below national |
| 182 | Winchester, VA-WV | $54,390 | 8% below national |
| 183 | Fargo, ND-MN | $54,230 | 8% below national |
| 184 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $54,110 | 8% below national |
| 185 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $54,080 | 8% below national |
| 186 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $54,070 | 8% below national |
| 187 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $54,070 | 8% below national |
| 188 | Amarillo, TX | $54,020 | 8% below national |
| 189 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $54,020 | 8% below national |
| 190 | Lubbock, TX | $54,020 | 8% below national |
| 191 | Wichita Falls, TX | $54,020 | 8% below national |
| 192 | Albany, GA | $54,010 | 8% below national |
| 193 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $53,930 | 9% below national |
| 194 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $53,900 | 9% below national |
| 195 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $53,830 | 9% below national |
| 196 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $53,810 | 9% below national |
| 197 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $53,810 | 9% below national |
| 198 | Terre Haute, IN | $53,670 | 9% below national |
| 199 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $53,640 | 9% below national |
| 200 | Abilene, TX | $53,570 | 9% below national |
| 201 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $53,480 | 9% below national |
| 202 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $53,390 | 9% below national |
| 203 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $53,270 | 10% below national |
| 204 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,210 | 10% below national |
| 205 | Beckley, WV | $53,140 | 10% below national |
| 206 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,090 | 10% below national |
| 207 | Rapid City, SD | $53,040 | 10% below national |
| 208 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $53,040 | 10% below national |
| 209 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $52,960 | 10% below national |
| 210 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $52,900 | 10% below national |
| 211 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $52,770 | 10% below national |
| 212 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $52,750 | 11% below national |
| 213 | Charlottesville, VA | $52,700 | 11% below national |
| 214 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $52,670 | 11% below national |
| 215 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $52,670 | 11% below national |
| 216 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $52,670 | 11% below national |
| 217 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $52,670 | 11% below national |
| 218 | Iowa City, IA | $52,640 | 11% below national |
| 219 | Las Cruces, NM | $52,370 | 11% below national |
| 220 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $52,300 | 11% below national |
| 221 | Helena, MT | $52,140 | 12% below national |
| 222 | Knoxville, TN | $52,040 | 12% below national |
| 223 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $51,990 | 12% below national |
| 224 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,900 | 12% below national |
| 225 | Richmond, VA | $51,660 | 12% below national |
| 226 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $51,510 | 13% below national |
| 227 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $51,480 | 13% below national |
| 228 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,420 | 13% below national |
| 229 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,420 | 13% below national |
| 230 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,390 | 13% below national |
| 231 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $51,310 | 13% below national |
| 232 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $51,310 | 13% below national |
| 233 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,310 | 13% below national |
| 234 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,310 | 13% below national |
| 235 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $51,290 | 13% below national |
| 236 | Erie, PA | $51,250 | 13% below national |
| 237 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $51,140 | 13% below national |
| 238 | Bismarck, ND | $51,130 | 13% below national |
| 239 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $51,010 | 13% below national |
| 240 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,980 | 14% below national |
| 241 | Harrisonburg, VA | $50,950 | 14% below national |
| 242 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $50,940 | 14% below national |
| 243 | Yuma, AZ | $50,940 | 14% below national |
| 244 | Asheville, NC | $50,850 | 14% below national |
| 245 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $50,550 | 14% below national |
| 246 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $50,550 | 14% below national |
| 247 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $50,490 | 14% below national |
| 248 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $50,450 | 14% below national |
| 249 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $50,390 | 15% below national |
| 250 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $50,230 | 15% below national |
| 251 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $50,230 | 15% below national |
| 252 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $50,230 | 15% below national |
| 253 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $50,170 | 15% below national |
| 254 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $50,090 | 15% below national |
| 255 | Roanoke, VA | $50,070 | 15% below national |
| 256 | Gainesville, FL | $50,020 | 15% below national |
| 257 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $49,970 | 15% below national |
| 258 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $49,960 | 15% below national |
| 259 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,920 | 15% below national |
| 260 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $49,910 | 15% below national |
| 261 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,900 | 15% below national |
| 262 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,810 | 15% below national |
| 263 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,700 | 16% below national |
| 264 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,650 | 16% below national |
| 265 | Pocatello, ID | $49,610 | 16% below national |
| 266 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $49,590 | 16% below national |
| 267 | Longview, TX | $49,530 | 16% below national |
| 268 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,510 | 16% below national |
| 269 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,480 | 16% below national |
| 270 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,430 | 16% below national |
| 271 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,380 | 16% below national |
| 272 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $49,380 | 16% below national |
| 273 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,360 | 16% below national |
| 274 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,290 | 16% below national |
| 275 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $49,280 | 16% below national |
| 276 | Billings, MT | $49,110 | 17% below national |
| 277 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,950 | 17% below national |
| 278 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,940 | 17% below national |
| 279 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $48,810 | 17% below national |
| 280 | Wilmington, NC | $48,810 | 17% below national |
| 281 | Rocky Mount, NC | $48,740 | 17% below national |
| 282 | Gainesville, GA | $48,730 | 17% below national |
| 283 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,720 | 17% below national |
| 284 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $48,700 | 17% below national |
| 285 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $48,610 | 18% below national |
| 286 | Savannah, GA | $48,450 | 18% below national |
| 287 | Valdosta, GA | $48,450 | 18% below national |
| 288 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,440 | 18% below national |
| 289 | Idaho Falls, ID | $48,420 | 18% below national |
| 290 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,340 | 18% below national |
| 291 | Tallahassee, FL | $48,170 | 18% below national |
| 292 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,030 | 19% below national |
| 293 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $48,000 | 19% below national |
| 294 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,940 | 19% below national |
| 295 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $47,900 | 19% below national |
| 296 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $47,850 | 19% below national |
| 297 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,850 | 19% below national |
| 298 | Hinesville, GA | $47,800 | 19% below national |
| 299 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $47,770 | 19% below national |
| 300 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,720 | 19% below national |
| 301 | Waco, TX | $47,660 | 19% below national |
| 302 | El Paso, TX | $47,650 | 19% below national |
| 303 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,450 | 19% below national |
| 304 | Dalton, GA | $47,440 | 20% below national |
| 305 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,430 | 20% below national |
| 306 | Winston-Salem, NC | $47,330 | 20% below national |
| 307 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $47,260 | 20% below national |
| 308 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $47,240 | 20% below national |
| 309 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 310 | Ocala, FL | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 311 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 312 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 313 | Punta Gorda, FL | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 314 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 315 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $47,130 | 20% below national |
| 316 | Jackson, MS | $47,010 | 20% below national |
| 317 | Springfield, MO | $46,940 | 20% below national |
| 318 | Warner Robins, GA | $46,930 | 20% below national |
| 319 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $46,920 | 20% below national |
| 320 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,790 | 21% below national |
| 321 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $46,710 | 21% below national |
| 322 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,640 | 21% below national |
| 323 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,440 | 21% below national |
| 324 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $46,430 | 21% below national |
| 325 | Lafayette, LA | $46,370 | 21% below national |
| 326 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $46,300 | 21% below national |
| 327 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $46,280 | 21% below national |
| 328 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,260 | 22% below national |
| 329 | Tulsa, OK | $46,220 | 22% below national |
| 330 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,060 | 22% below national |
| 331 | Dothan, AL | $45,900 | 22% below national |
| 332 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $45,810 | 22% below national |
| 333 | Jackson, TN | $45,770 | 22% below national |
| 334 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,620 | 23% below national |
| 335 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $45,550 | 23% below national |
| 336 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,330 | 23% below national |
| 337 | Akron, OH | $45,310 | 23% below national |
| 338 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $45,170 | 23% below national |
| 339 | Tyler, TX | $45,150 | 23% below national |
| 340 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $45,070 | 24% below national |
| 341 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,920 | 24% below national |
| 342 | Columbia, SC | $44,860 | 24% below national |
| 343 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,840 | 24% below national |
| 344 | Huntsville, AL | $44,800 | 24% below national |
| 345 | San Angelo, TX | $44,740 | 24% below national |
| 346 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $44,680 | 24% below national |
| 347 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $44,660 | 24% below national |
| 348 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $44,610 | 24% below national |
| 349 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $44,280 | 25% below national |
| 350 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $44,080 | 25% below national |
| 351 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $43,490 | 26% below national |
| 352 | Jonesboro, AR | $43,370 | 26% below national |
| 353 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $43,320 | 27% below national |
| 354 | Morristown, TN | $43,060 | 27% below national |
| 355 | Fayetteville, NC | $43,020 | 27% below national |
| 356 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $42,990 | 27% below national |
| 357 | Corpus Christi, TX | $42,940 | 27% below national |
| 358 | Columbia, MO | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 359 | Jefferson City, MO | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 360 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 361 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 362 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $42,620 | 28% below national |
| 363 | Laredo, TX | $42,570 | 28% below national |
| 364 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,310 | 28% below national |
| 365 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,310 | 28% below national |
| 366 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $41,960 | 29% below national |
| 367 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $41,960 | 29% below national |
| 368 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $41,340 | 30% below national |
| 369 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $41,170 | 30% below national |
| 370 | Owensboro, KY | $41,120 | 30% below national |
| 371 | Bowling Green, KY | $41,100 | 30% below national |
| 372 | Johnson City, TN | $40,570 | 31% below national |
| 373 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $40,490 | 31% below national |
| 374 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $40,330 | 32% below national |
| 375 | Lake Charles, LA | $39,960 | 32% below national |
| 376 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,410 | 33% below national |
| 377 | Paducah, KY-IL | $39,120 | 34% below national |
| 378 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,120 | 34% below national |
| 379 | Lawton, OK | $38,970 | 34% below national |
| 380 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $38,910 | 34% below national |
| 381 | Decatur, AL | $38,770 | 34% below national |
| 382 | Hattiesburg, MS | $38,720 | 34% below national |
| 383 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $38,710 | 34% below national |
| 384 | Florence, SC | $38,500 | 35% below national |
| 385 | Rome, GA | $38,440 | 35% below national |
| 386 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $38,330 | 35% below national |
| 387 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,990 | 36% below national |
| 388 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,960 | 36% below national |
| 389 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,750 | 36% below national |
| 390 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,420 | 37% below national |
| 391 | Enid, OK | $37,140 | 37% below national |
| 392 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,060 | 37% below national |
| 393 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,060 | 37% below national |
| 394 | Manhattan, KS | $37,000 | 37% below national |
| 395 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,570 | 38% below national |
| 396 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,540 | 38% below national |
| 397 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,290 | 38% below national |
| 398 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $35,900 | 39% below national |
| 399 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $35,480 | 40% below national |
| 400 | Joplin, MO-KS | $35,200 | 40% below national |
| 401 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $34,840 | 41% below national |
| 402 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,740 | 41% below national |
| 403 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $34,280 | 42% below national |
| 404 | Monroe, LA | $34,090 | 42% below national |
| 405 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $33,790 | 43% below national |
| 406 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,670 | 43% below national |
| 407 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $30,730 | 48% below national |
| 408 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $30,490 | 48% below national |
| 409 | Hammond, LA | $29,320 | 50% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Correctional Officers and Jailers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers is $58,940 ($28.34/hour). The salary range spans from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Correctional Officers and Jailers the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers at $96,370/year, which is +64% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Correctional Officers and Jailers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Correctional Officers and Jailers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Correctional Officers and Jailers? ▼
Correctional Officers and Jailers has a safety grade of C (Moderate Risk) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 8 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 6 per 100 workers.
Is Correctional Officers and Jailers a good career? ▼
Employment for Correctional Officers and Jailers is projected to decline 7.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 30,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Correctional Officers and Jailers pay vary by state? ▼
Correctional Officers and Jailers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $96,370/year, while Kentucky pays the least at $42,310/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Correctional Officers and Jailers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Correctional Officers and Jailers is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $132,670/year. BLS reports wage data for 409 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Correctional Officers and Jailers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $75,850/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $96,370/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.