As of January 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Correctional Officer in the United States is $51,092. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $40,393 to a high of $61,810, with most professionals earning between $45,492 and $56,702.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $56,702 | $4,725 | $1,090 | $27 |
| Average | $51,092 | $4,258 | $983 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,492 | $3,791 | $875 | $22 |
An entry-level Correctional Officer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $50,367. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $50,949. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $52,196. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $52,445, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $52,611.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Correctional Officer | $50,367 |
| Intermediate Level Correctional Officer | $50,949 |
| Senior Level Correctional Officer | $52,196 |
| Specialist Level Correctional Officer | $52,445 |
| Expert Level Correctional Officer | $52,611 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 3% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of January 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Correctional Officer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $37,712 in 2023 to approximately $37,659 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Correctional Officer salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Correctional Officer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Correctional Officer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Correctional Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $51,092 | 69.7% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $3,909 | 5.3% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,504 | 3.4% | ||
| Disability | $817 | 1.1% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 8.7% | ||
| Pension | $2,146 | 2.9% | ||
| Time Off | $6,485 | 8.8% | ||
| Total Compensation | $73,323 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 7.4% |
| High School | 44.2% |
| Associates | 18.9% |
| Bachelors | 25.8% |
| Masters | 3.7% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Correctional Officer is $51,092. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Correctional Officer is $25; the average weekly pay of Correctional Officer is $983; the average monthly pay of Correctional Officer is $4,258.
A Correctional Officer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Correctional Officer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Correctional Officer is $64,121.
The highest pay for Correctional Officer is $61,810.
The lowest pay for Correctional Officer is $40,393.
Correctional Officer enforces rules and regulations in a prison, jail or other holding facility. Presides over prisoners awaiting trial or those who have been convicted of a crime. Being a Correctional Officer oversees prisoner conduct and safety. Supervises prisoners during meals, recreation, work and other daily activities. Additionally, Correctional Officer documents violations and takes appropriate disciplinary actions. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Correctional Officer possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Initiative: Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
Health Insurance: Health insurance is a type of insurance coverage that pays for health and medical expenses. Health insurance covers some or all of the costs of routine care, emergency care, and treatment for chronic illnesses.
Transportation: Refers to the mode of travel used to get from home to work most frequently. The transportation are bus, train, aeroplane, ship, car, etc while the mode of transportation refers to road, air, sea/ocean, etc.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
