Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
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US Salary Overview
The national median wage for correctional officers and jailers in the United States is $58,940 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — real government survey data, not an algorithmic salary estimate. Pay ranges from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Prison service officers (below principal officer)) has a median of £31,603 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Signing a US offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,760 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $48,640 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $58,940 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $75,850 | Experienced |
| 90th | $93,220 | Senior / highest decile |
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| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $96,370 | $92,410 | 38,000 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 | $87,780 | 8,000 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 | $82,890 | 6,000 |
| Oregon | $83,690 | $80,890 | 4,000 |
| Washington | $79,460 | $78,150 | 7,000 |
| Illinois | $79,190 | $78,080 | 12,000 |
| New York | $76,820 | $77,240 | 28,000 |
| Nevada | $76,490 | $82,150 | 3,000 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 | $73,690 | 7,000 |
| Alaska | $71,360 | $74,430 | 850 |
| Hawaii | $69,570 | $72,280 | 1,000 |
| Utah | $67,290 | $67,930 | 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $66,040 | $67,870 | 5,000 |
| Delaware | $65,880 | $63,580 | 2,000 |
| Connecticut | $64,750 | $64,570 | 4,000 |
| Maryland | $64,250 | $66,140 | 6,000 |
| Michigan | $64,020 | $63,120 | 8,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,460 | $64,650 | 16,000 |
| Nebraska | $63,380 | $64,120 | 3,000 |
| Colorado | $62,140 | $66,360 | 7,000 |
| New Hampshire | $61,360 | $65,030 | 680 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | $58,660 | 13,000 |
| Kansas | $56,120 | $53,770 | 3,000 |
| Arizona | $54,970 | $56,080 | 14,000 |
| Wyoming | $54,780 | $57,310 | 920 |
| Vermont | $53,810 | $56,890 | 450 |
| Idaho | $53,580 | $57,350 | 2,000 |
| Iowa | $53,040 | $57,140 | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $53,040 | $53,260 | 1,000 |
| West Virginia | $52,890 | $56,670 | 3,000 |
| Maine | $52,730 | $53,790 | 1,000 |
| Texas | $52,670 | $53,330 | 45,000 |
| North Dakota | $52,460 | $55,090 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $50,940 | $51,420 | 7,000 |
| North Carolina | $50,550 | $51,390 | 12,000 |
| Virginia | $50,140 | $54,450 | 11,000 |
| Florida | $49,710 | $57,900 | 24,000 |
| Montana | $49,180 | $52,980 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $48,340 | $51,030 | 8,000 |
| New Mexico | $47,940 | $48,570 | 3,000 |
| South Carolina | $47,890 | $51,520 | 5,000 |
| Georgia | $47,520 | $47,980 | 11,000 |
| Alabama | $46,660 | $50,300 | 5,000 |
| Oklahoma | $45,690 | $45,380 | 4,000 |
| Missouri | $42,620 | $46,230 | 7,000 |
| Kentucky | $42,310 | $44,870 | 7,000 |
| Arkansas | $40,330 | $41,920 | 4,000 |
| Louisiana | $39,850 | $42,830 | 8,000 |
| Mississippi | $38,720 | $40,550 | 4,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,030 | $36,560 | 4,000 |
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How Does This Compare to the UK?
Correctional Officers and Jailers is the US equivalent of prison service officers (below principal officer) in the UK, which has a national median of £31,603. Figures are shown in local currency, not converted — cost of living, tax systems and benefits packages differ enough between the two countries that a currency conversion alone would be misleading. See the full UK breakdown, or use our comparison tool to set this role against another job title side by side, with location and experience-level filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a correctional officers and jailers in the US?
The US national median wage for correctional officers and jailers is $58,940 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for correctional officers and jailers in the US?
Pay ranges from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay correctional officers and jailers the most?
The highest-paying states for correctional officers and jailers include California ($96,370), New Jersey ($94,770), Massachusetts ($86,310). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does correctional officers and jailers salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — California ($96,370) pays roughly 167% more than Puerto Rico ($36,030). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
How does correctional officers and jailers pay compare between the US and UK?
The UK equivalent role (Prison service officers (below principal officer)) has a national median of £31,603. Figures are shown in local currency rather than converted, since cost of living and tax systems differ enough between the two countries that a straight currency conversion would be misleading.
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Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-09-02