Correctional Officers and Jailers
Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) earn a median $58,940 a year ($28.34 an hour) in the United States, with 380,500 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What correctional officers and jailers do
Correctional officers and jailers guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures, and may guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison or other points. The SOC includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend most of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions. They conduct head counts to make sure each prisoner is present and inspect locks, window bars, grills, doors and gates to ensure security and help prevent escapes. They monitor prisoners' conduct in housing units and during work or recreational activities, following established policies to prevent escape or violence. They search prisoners and vehicles, shake down cells for valuables and contraband such as weapons or drugs, and inspect mail for contraband. They guard facility entrances to screen visitors. They record prisoner identification, charges and incidents of disturbance, keeping daily logs of activity. O*NET alternate titles include booking officer, confinement officer, correctional guard, detention deputy and community corrections officer. About 92 percent of respondents report a high school diploma or the equivalent. Police patrol work in the community and bailiffs in courts are separate occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (92 percent).
Also called: Booking Officer, Certified Detention Deputy, Civilian Jail Officer, Community Corrections Officer (CCO), Community Services Officer (CSO).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.56 | $23.38 | $28.34 | $36.47 | $44.82 | $30.59 | 380,500 |
| Annual | $42,760 | $48,640 | $58,940 | $75,850 | $93,220 | $63,630 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where correctional officers and jailers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.47 | $36.72 | $46.33 | $52.69 | $55.16 | $44.43 | 37,860 | 2.08 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $63,380 | $76,370 | $96,370 | $109,580 | $114,730 | $92,410 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $24.72 | $34.82 | $45.56 | $51.23 | $51.23 | $42.20 | 7,570 | 1.77 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $51,410 | $72,420 | $94,770 | $106,570 | $106,570 | $87,780 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $30.54 | $34.27 | $41.49 | $44.22 | $48.86 | $39.85 | 6,360 | 1.75 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $63,520 | $71,280 | $86,310 | $91,980 | $101,620 | $82,890 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $30.87 | $34.73 | $40.24 | $42.15 | $46.07 | $38.89 | 3,650 | 1.86 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $64,200 | $72,230 | $83,690 | $87,660 | $95,820 | $80,890 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $30.99 | $33.94 | $38.20 | $39.21 | $45.88 | $37.57 | 6,800 | 1.91 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $64,460 | $70,600 | $79,460 | $81,550 | $95,430 | $78,150 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.57 | $23.50 | $25.32 | $27.56 | $29.11 | $25.64 | 44,700 | 3.18 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $44,870 | $48,880 | $52,670 | $57,330 | $60,550 | $53,330 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $30.47 | $36.72 | $46.33 | $52.69 | $55.16 | $44.43 | 37,860 | 2.08 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $63,380 | $76,370 | $96,370 | $109,580 | $114,730 | $92,410 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.34 | $32.91 | $36.93 | $43.87 | $44.82 | $37.13 | 27,770 | 2.87 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $58,940 | $68,450 | $76,820 | $91,250 | $93,220 | $77,240 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.00 | $22.66 | $23.90 | $31.36 | $38.70 | $27.84 | 24,280 | 2.45 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $47,130 | $49,710 | $65,230 | $80,500 | $57,900 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.52 | $24.28 | $30.51 | $38.17 | $41.17 | $31.08 | 15,560 | 2.57 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $46,840 | $50,500 | $63,460 | $79,390 | $85,630 | $64,650 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $43.28 | $63.79 | $63.79 | $63.79 | $63.79 | $60.71 | 1,050 | 0.93 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $90,020 | $132,670 | $132,670 | $132,670 | $132,670 | $126,290 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $33.56 | $42.15 | $52.70 | $53.84 | $55.90 | $47.67 | 1,510 | 8.09 | 3.31 |
| Annual | $69,800 | $87,660 | $109,620 | $111,990 | $116,270 | $99,160 | ||||
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Hourly | $33.54 | $40.99 | $51.55 | $53.10 | $55.16 | $46.60 | 3,280 | 9.70 | 3.97 |
| Annual | $69,770 | $85,260 | $107,220 | $110,440 | $114,730 | $96,930 | ||||
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | Hourly | $41.21 | $45.71 | $51.55 | $53.10 | $55.16 | $49.29 | 710 | 5.80 | 2.37 |
| Annual | $85,720 | $95,080 | $107,220 | $110,440 | $114,730 | $102,510 | ||||
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Hourly | $33.54 | $37.56 | $51.55 | $52.69 | $54.23 | $45.90 | 1,220 | 4.21 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $69,770 | $78,130 | $107,220 | $109,580 | $112,800 | $95,460 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.72 | $35.23 | $44.82 | $45.55 | $50.94 | $40.98 | 14,730 | 1.55 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $51,410 | $73,270 | $93,220 | $94,750 | $105,950 | $85,240 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $22.75 | $23.78 | $27.54 | $29.97 | $31.26 | $27.52 | 8,920 | 3.76 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $47,310 | $49,470 | $57,280 | $62,340 | $65,030 | $57,230 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.92 | $23.50 | $25.87 | $27.56 | $28.18 | $26.13 | 8,650 | 2.63 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $47,660 | $48,880 | $53,810 | $57,330 | $58,620 | $54,350 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.93 | $36.46 | $37.87 | $47.13 | $52.69 | $39.95 | 6,070 | 0.97 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $60,180 | $75,840 | $78,770 | $98,020 | $109,580 | $83,090 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $23.81 | $27.00 | $32.31 | $38.11 | $45.56 | $33.38 | 5,570 | 1.92 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $49,520 | $56,160 | $67,200 | $79,260 | $94,770 | $69,420 | ||||
Top industries employing correctional officers and jailers
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 50.3% of correctional officers and jailers nationally (191,530 jobs) at a median $59,990 a year ($28.84 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (41.3%) and Facilities Support Services (3.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 191,530 | 50.3% | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 157,270 | 41.3% | $58,480 | $28.12 |
| Facilities Support Services NAICS 561200 | 14,230 | 3.7% | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 14,180 | 3.7% | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals NAICS 622200 | 490 | 0.1% | $61,360 | $29.50 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (380,500). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,920 for correctional officers and jailers in May 2021 and $58,940 in May 2025, with employment of 392,600 and 380,500.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,920 | $23.04 | 392,600 |
| May 2022 | $49,610 | $23.85 | 363,250 |
| May 2023 | $53,300 | $25.63 | 351,420 |
| May 2024 | $57,970 | $27.87 | 365,380 |
| May 2025 | $58,940 | $28.34 | 380,500 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $46.33 | $96,370 | $63,380 | $114,730 | 37,860 | 2.08 | 0.85 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $45.56 | $94,770 | $51,410 | $106,570 | 7,570 | 1.77 | 0.72 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $41.49 | $86,310 | $63,520 | $101,620 | 6,360 | 1.75 | 0.71 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $40.24 | $83,690 | $64,200 | $95,820 | 3,650 | 1.86 | 0.76 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $38.20 | $79,460 | $64,460 | $95,430 | 6,800 | 1.91 | 0.78 |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $38.07 | $79,190 | $50,520 | $102,770 | 12,190 | 2.00 | 0.82 |
| 7 | New York profile | $36.93 | $76,820 | $58,940 | $93,220 | 27,770 | 2.87 | 1.17 |
| 8 | Nevada profile | $36.77 | $76,490 | $62,150 | $102,610 | 3,240 | 2.09 | 0.85 |
| 9 | Wisconsin profile | $35.32 | $73,470 | $56,540 | $92,140 | 7,360 | 2.50 | 1.02 |
| 10 | Alaska profile | $34.31 | $71,360 | $60,340 | $94,930 | 850 | 2.60 | 1.06 |
| 11 | Hawaii profile | $33.45 | $69,570 | $64,250 | $82,240 | 1,310 | 2.08 | 0.85 |
| 12 | Utah profile | $32.35 | $67,290 | $47,700 | $84,680 | 2,050 | 1.18 | 0.48 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $31.75 | $66,040 | $54,060 | $82,380 | 5,350 | 1.81 | 0.74 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $31.67 | $65,880 | $46,520 | $79,260 | 1,730 | 3.58 | 1.46 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $31.13 | $64,750 | $55,520 | $70,710 | 3,780 | 2.23 | 0.91 |
| 16 | Maryland profile | $30.89 | $64,250 | $53,100 | $82,280 | 6,060 | 2.19 | 0.90 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $47,360 | $77,990 | 8,220 | 1.87 | 0.76 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.51 | $63,460 | $46,840 | $85,630 | 15,560 | 2.57 | 1.05 |
| 19 | Nebraska profile | $30.47 | $63,380 | $47,630 | $78,270 | 3,250 | 3.17 | 1.29 |
| 20 | Colorado profile | $29.87 | $62,140 | $52,370 | $87,690 | 7,290 | 2.54 | 1.04 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | $29.50 | $61,360 | $47,480 | $82,240 | 680 | 0.99 | 0.40 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $28.55 | $59,370 | $46,930 | $68,060 | 12,610 | 2.27 | 0.93 |
| 23 | Kansas profile | $26.98 | $56,120 | $37,000 | $64,940 | 3,380 | 2.35 | 0.96 |
| 24 | Arizona profile | $26.43 | $54,970 | $45,620 | $65,030 | 14,230 | 4.39 | 1.79 |
| 25 | Wyoming profile | $26.34 | $54,780 | $50,340 | $71,010 | 920 | 3.28 | 1.34 |
| 26 | Vermont profile | $25.87 | $53,810 | $46,010 | $71,660 | 450 | 1.46 | 0.60 |
| 27 | Idaho profile | $25.76 | $53,580 | $45,430 | $74,720 | 2,370 | 2.76 | 1.13 |
| 28 | Iowa profile | $25.50 | $53,040 | $47,670 | $73,530 | 3,440 | 2.21 | 0.90 |
| 29 | South Dakota profile | $25.50 | $53,040 | $43,240 | $66,390 | 1,490 | 3.25 | 1.33 |
| 30 | West Virginia profile | $25.43 | $52,890 | $45,390 | $75,610 | 2,980 | 4.25 | 1.74 |
| 31 | Maine profile | $25.35 | $52,730 | $44,640 | $60,510 | 1,090 | 1.69 | 0.69 |
| 32 | Texas profile | $25.32 | $52,670 | $44,870 | $60,550 | 44,700 | 3.18 | 1.30 |
| 33 | North Dakota profile | $25.22 | $52,460 | $47,580 | $62,870 | 1,290 | 3.02 | 1.23 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $24.49 | $50,940 | $38,690 | $62,790 | 6,990 | 2.13 | 0.87 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $24.30 | $50,550 | $38,850 | $63,150 | 11,900 | 2.41 | 0.98 |
| 36 | Virginia profile | $24.11 | $50,140 | $46,320 | $70,570 | 11,270 | 2.74 | 1.12 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $45,760 | $80,500 | 24,280 | 2.45 | 1.00 |
| 38 | Montana profile | $23.64 | $49,180 | $44,690 | $62,730 | 1,430 | 2.80 | 1.15 |
| 39 | Indiana profile | $23.24 | $48,340 | $41,670 | $61,840 | 8,060 | 2.52 | 1.03 |
| 40 | New Mexico profile | $23.05 | $47,940 | $37,900 | $59,330 | 2,740 | 3.15 | 1.29 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $23.02 | $47,890 | $40,090 | $71,390 | 4,870 | 2.11 | 0.86 |
| 42 | Georgia profile | $22.84 | $47,520 | $36,820 | $58,430 | 10,640 | 2.18 | 0.89 |
| 43 | Alabama profile | $22.43 | $46,660 | $30,430 | $74,290 | 4,970 | 2.35 | 0.96 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $21.97 | $45,690 | $34,530 | $58,380 | 3,730 | 2.19 | 0.89 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $20.49 | $42,620 | $37,210 | $63,940 | 6,670 | 2.27 | 0.93 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $20.34 | $42,310 | $29,910 | $61,820 | 6,770 | 3.38 | 1.38 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $19.39 | $40,330 | $31,200 | $49,360 | 4,460 | 3.42 | 1.40 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $19.16 | $39,850 | $30,770 | $55,260 | 7,960 | 4.11 | 1.68 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $18.62 | $38,720 | $27,540 | $55,580 | 4,040 | 3.47 | 1.42 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-3010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-3012 Correctional Officers and Jailers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-3012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-3012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.