Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary by State
The national median pay for correctional officers and jailers is $58,940 a year. By state, it ranges from $38,720 in Mississippi to $96,370 in California.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $42,760
- 25th percentile
- $48,640
- Median
- $58,940
- 75th percentile
- $75,850
- Top 10%
- $93,220
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 380,500 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $96,370 | +64% | $63,380 | $114,730 | 37,860 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $94,770 | +61% | $51,410 | $106,570 | 7,570 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $86,310 | +46% | $63,520 | $101,620 | 6,360 |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,690 | +42% | $64,200 | $95,820 | 3,650 |
| 5 | Washington | $79,460 | +35% | $64,460 | $95,430 | 6,800 |
| 6 | Illinois | $79,190 | +34% | $50,520 | $102,770 | 12,190 |
| 7 | New York | $76,820 | +30% | $58,940 | $93,220 | 27,770 |
| 8 | Nevada | $76,490 | +30% | $62,150 | $102,610 | 3,240 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $73,470 | +25% | $56,540 | $92,140 | 7,360 |
| 10 | Alaska | $71,360 | +21% | $60,340 | $94,930 | 850 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $69,570 | +18% | $64,250 | $82,240 | 1,310 |
| 12 | Utah | $67,290 | +14% | $47,700 | $84,680 | 2,050 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $66,040 | +12% | $54,060 | $82,380 | 5,350 |
| 14 | Delaware | $65,880 | +12% | $46,520 | $79,260 | 1,730 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $64,750 | +10% | $55,520 | $70,710 | 3,780 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,250 | +9% | $53,100 | $82,280 | 6,060 |
| 17 | Michigan | $64,020 | +9% | $47,360 | $77,990 | 8,220 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $63,460 | +8% | $46,840 | $85,630 | 15,560 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $63,380 | +8% | $47,630 | $78,270 | 3,250 |
| 20 | Colorado | $62,140 | +5% | $52,370 | $87,690 | 7,290 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $61,360 | +4% | $47,480 | $82,240 | 680 |
| 22 | Ohio | $59,370 | +1% | $46,930 | $68,060 | 12,610 |
| 23 | Kansas | $56,120 | −5% | $37,000 | $64,940 | 3,380 |
| 24 | Arizona | $54,970 | −7% | $45,620 | $65,030 | 14,230 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $54,780 | −7% | $50,340 | $71,010 | 920 |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,810 | −9% | $46,010 | $71,660 | 450 |
| 27 | Idaho | $53,580 | −9% | $45,430 | $74,720 | 2,370 |
| 28 | Iowa | $53,040 | −10% | $47,670 | $73,530 | 3,440 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $53,040 | −10% | $43,240 | $66,390 | 1,490 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $52,890 | −10% | $45,390 | $75,610 | 2,980 |
| 31 | Maine | $52,730 | −11% | $44,640 | $60,510 | 1,090 |
| 32 | Texas | $52,670 | −11% | $44,870 | $60,550 | 44,700 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $52,460 | −11% | $47,580 | $62,870 | 1,290 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $50,940 | −14% | $38,690 | $62,790 | 6,990 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $50,550 | −14% | $38,850 | $63,150 | 11,900 |
| 36 | Virginia | $50,140 | −15% | $46,320 | $70,570 | 11,270 |
| 37 | Florida | $49,710 | −16% | $45,760 | $80,500 | 24,280 |
| 38 | Montana | $49,180 | −17% | $44,690 | $62,730 | 1,430 |
| 39 | Indiana | $48,340 | −18% | $41,670 | $61,840 | 8,060 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $47,940 | −19% | $37,900 | $59,330 | 2,740 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $47,890 | −19% | $40,090 | $71,390 | 4,870 |
| 42 | Georgia | $47,520 | −19% | $36,820 | $58,430 | 10,640 |
| 43 | Alabama | $46,660 | −21% | $30,430 | $74,290 | 4,970 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $45,690 | −22% | $34,530 | $58,380 | 3,730 |
| 45 | Missouri | $42,620 | −28% | $37,210 | $63,940 | 6,670 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $42,310 | −28% | $29,910 | $61,820 | 6,770 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $40,330 | −32% | $31,200 | $49,360 | 4,460 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $39,850 | −32% | $30,770 | $55,260 | 7,960 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $38,720 | −34% | $27,540 | $55,580 | 4,040 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary questions
Which state pays correctional officers and jailers the most?
California, with a median of $96,370 a year (+64% vs. the national median of $58,940). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays correctional officers and jailers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $38,720 a year (−34% vs. national).
Where do most correctional officers and jailers work?
Texas has the most jobs, about 44,700, with a median of $52,670.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.