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Detention Aide Salary in the United States

How much does a Detention Aide make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Detention Aide in the United States is $50,721 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, a Detention Aide's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,885
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,500 to $54,994
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,657
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Detention Aide Salaries

A Detention Aide's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Detention Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Detention Aide's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $51,307
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,739
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,777
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $52,985
  • Expert (over 8 years): $53,124
Levels Salary
Entry Level Detention Aide$51,307
Intermediate Level Detention Aide$51,739
Senior Level Detention Aide$52,777
Specialist Level Detention Aide$52,985
Expert Level Detention Aide$53,124
View as Graph

How Do Detention Aide Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Detention Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,158.
  • California: $55,945.
  • Massachusetts: $55,199.

Top Paying Cities for Detention Aides

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $63,974
  • San Francisco: $63,273
  • Oakland: $61,940

What Skills Can Increase a Detention Aide's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 9.04% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 6.61% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Bond (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Bonds are issued by borrowers to raise money from investors willing to lend them money for a certain amount of time.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 9.04%
CPR 6.61%
Bond 2.56%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Detention Aide's salary.

  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Active Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Integrity $54,778
8%
Active Listening $54,778
8%
Problem Solving $53,764
6%
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How Education impacts a Detention Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Detention Aides enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Detention Aide with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $46,708 and $49,951).

Detention Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Detention Aide
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%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Detention Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Detention Aide's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$46,500
Average $50,721/year
$54,994
$3,875
Average $4,227/month
$4,583
$894
Average $975/week
$1,058
$22
Average $24/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $54,994 $4,583 $1,058 $26
Average $50,721 $4,227 $975 $24
25th Percentile $46,500 $3,875 $894 $22

Most common benefits for Detention Aide

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Detention Aide

Here are companies hiring for Detention Aide and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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