Correctional Officers and Jailers salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median of $58,940 a year ($28.34/hr) in the U.S. – from $36,030 in Puerto Rico to $96,370 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$28.34/hr · $58,940 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$42,760$20.56/hr
75% earn more$48,640$23.38/hr
half earn more, half less$58,940$28.34/hr
25% earn more$75,850$36.47/hr
top 10% earn more$93,220$44.82/hr
pulled up by top earners$63,630$30.59/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among correctional officers and jailers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
37,860 jobs · $46.33/hr$96,370
7,570 jobs · $45.56/hr$94,770
6,360 jobs · $41.49/hr$86,310
3,650 jobs · $40.24/hr$83,690
6,800 jobs · $38.20/hr$79,460
12,190 jobs · $38.07/hr$79,190
27,770 jobs · $36.93/hr$76,820
3,240 jobs · $36.77/hr$76,490
7,360 jobs · $35.32/hr$73,470
850 jobs · $34.31/hr$71,360
1,310 jobs · $33.45/hr$69,570
2,050 jobs · $32.35/hr$67,290
5,350 jobs · $31.75/hr$66,040
1,730 jobs · $31.67/hr$65,880
3,780 jobs · $31.13/hr$64,750
6,060 jobs · $30.89/hr$64,250
8,220 jobs · $30.78/hr$64,020
15,560 jobs · $30.51/hr$63,460
3,250 jobs · $30.47/hr$63,380
7,290 jobs · $29.87/hr$62,140
680 jobs · $29.50/hr$61,360
12,610 jobs · $28.55/hr$59,370
3,380 jobs · $26.98/hr$56,120
14,230 jobs · $26.43/hr$54,970
920 jobs · $26.34/hr$54,780
450 jobs · $25.87/hr$53,810
2,370 jobs · $25.76/hr$53,580
3,440 jobs · $25.50/hr$53,040
1,490 jobs · $25.50/hr$53,040
2,980 jobs · $25.43/hr$52,890
1,090 jobs · $25.35/hr$52,730
44,700 jobs · $25.32/hr$52,670
1,290 jobs · $25.22/hr$52,460
6,990 jobs · $24.49/hr$50,940
11,900 jobs · $24.30/hr$50,550
11,270 jobs · $24.11/hr$50,140
24,280 jobs · $23.90/hr$49,710
1,430 jobs · $23.64/hr$49,180
8,060 jobs · $23.24/hr$48,340
2,740 jobs · $23.05/hr$47,940
4,870 jobs · $23.02/hr$47,890
10,640 jobs · $22.84/hr$47,520
4,970 jobs · $22.43/hr$46,660
3,730 jobs · $21.97/hr$45,690
6,670 jobs · $20.49/hr$42,620
6,770 jobs · $20.34/hr$42,310
4,460 jobs · $19.39/hr$40,330
7,960 jobs · $19.16/hr$39,850
4,040 jobs · $18.62/hr$38,720
3,740 jobs · $17.32/hr$36,030
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 33-3012. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do correctional officers and jailers make?
The median wage for correctional officers and jailers in the U.S. was $28.34 an hour or $58,940 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,640 and $75,850 a year.
Which state pays correctional officers and jailers the most?
California has the highest median wage for correctional officers and jailers: $96,370 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $36,030. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many correctional officers and jailers are there?
BLS estimates 380,500 correctional officers and jailers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.