Correctional Officer Salary by State: Where Correctional Officers Earn the Most (2027)
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The same correctional officer job can pay tens of thousands of dollars more in one state than in another. Correctional officers and jailers in the US earned an average (mean) salary of $63,630 a year, or $30.59 an hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median was $58,940. State averages ranged from $40,550 in Mississippi to $92,410 in California, a gap of $51,860 a year. Correctional officer salary by state depends on who runs the facility, local prices, and how each state funds corrections. Here is a ranked list of every state BLS reports, with hourly and annual pay, federal vs. state pay, and what to weigh before relocating.
Health insurance, leave and signing bonuses
In March 2026, 89% of state and local government workers had access to medical care benefits and 92% to retirement benefits, according to the BLS employee benefits survey. Those figures cover all state and local workers, not correctional officers alone. Signing and recruitment bonuses vary by agency.
Career Path and Promotions
Rank / Role | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
Correctional Officer | $63,630 (BLS mean) |
Senior Officer | No verified national figure |
Correctional Sergeant | $84,380 (BLS mean for first-line supervisors of correctional officers) |
Lieutenant | No verified national figure |
Captain | No verified national figure |
Warden | No verified national figure |
For correctional sergeant pay, BLS counts sergeants with first-line supervisors of correctional officers, a group that earned a median of $77,970 and a mean of $84,380 in May 2025. That is about $20,750 more than the officer average. The top 10% of supervisors earned more than $127,780. BLS does not publish separate national pay for senior officers, lieutenants, captains or wardens, and rank titles and pay steps differ by agency.
How long promotions typically take
BLS lists less than five years of related work experience as typical for first-line supervisors of correctional officers. Agencies set their own time-in-grade rules and promotion exams.
Related careers (probation officer, parole officer, police officer)
- Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, a group that includes parole officers, earned a median probation officer salary of $66,270 in May 2025. The job typically requires a bachelor's degree.
- Police and sheriff's patrol officers earned a median of $76,210, about $17,270 more than the correctional officer median.
- Bailiffs, who keep order in courtrooms, earned a median of $56,600.
Job Outlook
BLS growth projection and annual openings
The BLS employment projections show employment of correctional officers and jailers falling 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 397,800 jobs to 368,200. Even so, BLS expects about 28,400 openings a year, all from the need to replace officers who move to other occupations or leave the labor force, such as to retire.
Trends shaping demand
BLS ties the decline to changes in criminal laws. Faced with high costs, many state governments have moved toward shorter prison terms and alternatives to prison, and community-based programs may also reduce prisoner counts. Staffing shortages still lead some agencies, including the BOP, to offer hiring bonuses.
How to Earn More as a Correctional Officer
Move to a higher-paying state
California, New Jersey and Massachusetts average more than $82,000, about double the Mississippi average. Nevada and Wisconsin offer strong pay relative to local prices. Check certification rules before moving, since BLS notes that each state's public safety or corrections agency sets its own.
Consider federal employment
Federal correctional officers earned an average of $73,460 in May 2025, the highest of any employer type. The BOP sets a maximum entry age of 37, with applicants considered up to age 39, and new officers complete a three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques course in Glynco, Georgia.
Pursue specialized units (K-9, SWAT, transport)
BLS notes that officers may move into specialized units, such as a gang task force or hostage negotiation. No government source publishes a national pay premium for K-9, tactical or transport assignments, so ask each agency.
Get promoted or earn a degree
Supervisors of correctional officers averaged $84,380, about $20,750 more than officers. A bachelor's degree qualifies new federal officers for grade GL-5 and opens related roles such as probation officer.
Use overtime and differentials strategically
Overtime pays at least time and a half once an officer passes the overtime threshold for the work period. Five extra hours a week at the national average adds about $11,930 a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do correctional officers make per year?
Correctional officers and jailers earned an average of $63,630 a year in May 2025, according to BLS, and the median was $58,940. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $42,760, and the top 10% earned more than $93,220. Overtime and shift differentials can raise yearly earnings above these base figures.
How much do correctional officers make per hour?
The average correctional officer hourly wage was $30.59 in May 2025, and the median was $28.34. Hourly averages ranged from $19.49 in Mississippi to $44.43 in California. Overtime is paid at time and a half once an officer passes the threshold for the agency's work period.
What state pays correctional officers the most?
California pays correctional officers the most, with an average of $92,410 a year, or $44.43 an hour, in May 2025. New Jersey followed at $87,780 and Massachusetts at $82,890. California remains first even after adjusting for its prices, which are the highest of any state.
What state pays correctional officers the least?
Mississippi pays correctional officers the least, with an average of $40,550 a year, or $19.49 an hour, in May 2025. Arkansas followed at $41,920 and Louisiana at $42,830. Prices in these states are well below the US average, which narrows the gap in real pay.
What is the average correctional officer salary in the US?
The average correctional officer salary in the US was $63,630 a year, or $30.59 an hour, in May 2025, based on BLS data for about 380,500 correctional officers and jailers. The median, which is less affected by high earners, was $58,940 a year.
How much do federal correctional officers make?
Federal correctional officers earned an average of $73,460 a year in May 2025, the highest of any employer type. A 2026 Federal Bureau of Prisons hiring announcement listed $43,693 to $98,113 across grades GL-4 to GL-8 and all locations, plus a recruitment incentive of up to $49,056.
How much do correctional officers make in California?
California correctional officers earned an average of $92,410 a year, or $44.43 an hour, in May 2025, the highest of any state. The median was $96,370. California employs about 37,860 correctional officers, and its prices run about 10.7% above the US average.
How much do correctional officers make in Texas?
Texas correctional officers earned an average of $53,330 a year, or $25.64 an hour, in May 2025, with a median of $52,670. Texas employs about 44,700 officers, more than any other state. Prices in Texas run about 2.9% below the US average.
How much do correctional officers make in New York?
New York correctional officers earned an average of $77,240 a year, or $37.13 an hour, in May 2025, ranking eighth among the states. The median was $76,820. New York employs about 27,770 officers, and its prices run about 7.9% above the US average.
Do correctional officers get paid overtime?
Yes. Correctional officers in public agencies are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Agencies can use a special work period for correctional security staff, with overtime due after 171 hours in 28 days or a proportional amount for shorter periods. BLS notes that officers may be required to work overtime.
How much do entry-level correctional officers make?
BLS does not publish pay by experience, so the lower percentiles are the best guide to starting salary. The 10th percentile was $42,760 a year, or $20.56 an hour, and the 25th percentile was $48,640 in May 2025. The 2026 Bureau of Prisons announcement listed pay starting at $43,693, depending on grade and location.
Do jail officers make less than prison officers?
On average, yes. Local government correctional officers, who mostly work in county and city jails, earned an average of $61,000 in May 2025. State government officers, who mostly work in prisons, earned $66,180. The medians were closer, at $58,480 and $59,990.
Do private prison guards make less than state officers?
Yes. Correctional officers in facilities support services, the industry that includes private prison operators, earned an average of $49,100 in May 2025. That is about $17,080 less than the $66,180 average for state government officers. Private facilities employ only about 3% of correctional officers.
Can correctional officers make six figures?
Some can. The top 10% of correctional officers earned more than $93,220 in May 2025, and California's median was $96,370. Supervisors of correctional officers in the top 10% earned more than $127,780, so six figures usually requires a high-paying state, overtime, or promotion.
Do correctional officers get a pension?
Federal officers with the Bureau of Prisons can retire at age 50 with 20 years of service, or at any age with 25 years, under federal law enforcement rules. State and county officers join their own pension systems; 92% of state and local government workers had access to retirement benefits in March 2026.
What benefits do correctional officers receive?
In March 2026, 89% of state and local government workers had access to medical care benefits and 92% to retirement benefits, according to BLS. Terms are set by each state, county or federal plan, and some agencies add hiring incentives. The Bureau of Prisons offered a recruitment incentive of up to $49,056 in a 2026 direct-hire announcement.
How much do correctional sergeants make?
BLS counts correctional sergeants with first-line supervisors of correctional officers, who earned a median of $77,970 and a mean of $84,380 in May 2025. The top 10% earned more than $127,780. Federal supervisors averaged $94,690, the highest of any employer type.
Is being a correctional officer a good career?
It offers above-median pay for a high school entry requirement: the $58,940 median is higher than the $50,980 median for all occupations. BLS projects a 7.4% decline in jobs from 2025 to 2035, but about 28,400 openings a year. The work can be stressful and dangerous.
How long is correctional officer training?
Training length varies by state and agency. Officers typically complete an academy before they are assigned to a facility, then receive on-the-job training. Federal officers with the Bureau of Prisons complete a three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques course in Glynco, Georgia, along with institution training.
How do correctional officer salaries compare to police officer salaries?
Police and sheriff's patrol officers earned a median of $76,210 in May 2025, about $17,270 more than the $58,940 median for correctional officers and jailers. Both jobs typically require a high school diploma and academy training, though police employment is projected to grow while correctional officer jobs decline.
Comparing Correctional Officer Pay Across States
California, New Jersey and Massachusetts pay correctional officers the most, each averaging more than $82,000, while Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana average under $43,000. That gap reaches $51,860 a year between California and Mississippi. Correctional officer salary by state is only part of the picture: prices, pensions, overtime rules and the type of employer all change what a job is worth. Comparing an offer against the state's average in the full table shows where it stands. Dreambound helps people compare training programs for corrections and related careers. Wage figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025 unless another source is named.
Correctional Officer Salary by State (Full Table)
# | State | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Wage | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alabama | $50,300 | $24.18 | 41 |
2 | Alaska | $74,430 | $35.78 | 9 |
3 | Arizona | $56,080 | $26.96 | 29 |
4 | Arkansas | $41,920 | $20.15 | 48 |
5 | California | $92,410 | $44.43 | 1 |
6 | Colorado | $66,360 | $31.90 | 14 |
7 | Connecticut | $64,570 | $31.05 | 18 |
8 | Delaware | $63,580 | $30.57 | 20 |
9 | Florida | $57,900 | $27.84 | 23 |
10 | Georgia | $47,980 | $23.07 | 43 |
11 | Hawaii | $72,280 | $34.75 | 11 |
12 | Idaho | $57,350 | $27.57 | 24 |
13 | Illinois | $78,080 | $37.54 | 7 |
14 | Indiana | $51,030 | $24.53 | 40 |
15 | Iowa | $57,140 | $27.47 | 26 |
16 | Kansas | $53,770 | $25.85 | 33 |
17 | Kentucky | $44,870 | $21.57 | 46 |
18 | Louisiana | $42,830 | $20.59 | 47 |
19 | Maine | $53,790 | $25.86 | 32 |
20 | Maryland | $66,140 | $31.80 | 15 |
21 | Massachusetts | $82,890 | $39.85 | 3 |
22 | Michigan | $63,120 | $30.35 | 21 |
23 | Minnesota | $67,870 | $32.63 | 13 |
24 | Mississippi | $40,550 | $19.49 | 49 |
25 | Missouri | $46,230 | $22.23 | 44 |
26 | Montana | $52,980 | $25.47 | 36 |
27 | Nebraska | $64,120 | $30.83 | 19 |
28 | Nevada | $82,150 | $39.49 | 4 |
29 | New Hampshire | $65,030 | $31.27 | 16 |
30 | New Jersey | $87,780 | $42.20 | 2 |
31 | New Mexico | $48,570 | $23.35 | 42 |
32 | New York | $77,240 | $37.13 | 8 |
33 | North Carolina | $51,390 | $24.71 | 39 |
34 | North Dakota | $55,090 | $26.49 | 30 |
35 | Ohio | $58,660 | $28.20 | 22 |
36 | Oklahoma | $45,380 | $21.82 | 45 |
37 | Oregon | $80,890 | $38.89 | 5 |
38 | Pennsylvania | $64,650 | $31.08 | 17 |
39 | Rhode Island | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not ranked |
40 | South Carolina | $51,520 | $24.77 | 37 |
41 | South Dakota | $53,260 | $25.61 | 35 |
42 | Tennessee | $51,420 | $24.72 | 38 |
43 | Texas | $53,330 | $25.64 | 34 |
44 | Utah | $67,930 | $32.66 | 12 |
45 | Vermont | $56,890 | $27.35 | 27 |
46 | Virginia | $54,450 | $26.18 | 31 |
47 | Washington | $78,150 | $37.57 | 6 |
48 | West Virginia | $56,670 | $27.24 | 28 |
49 | Wisconsin | $73,690 | $35.43 | 10 |
50 | Wyoming | $57,310 | $27.55 | 25 |
51 | District of Columbia | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not ranked |
Figures are BLS May 2025 averages for correctional officers and jailers (SOC 33-3012). Rank is by average annual salary among the 49 states with published data.
