What are the main factors that influence a Detention Officer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Detention Officer's salary?

A Detention Officer's salary grows with experience: starting around $53,071 for beginners, reaching about $54,592 at mid-level, and approach $54,949 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Detention Officer?

Detention Officer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Detention Officer roles are District of Columbia $58,747, California $58,524, Massachusetts $57,744. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Detention Officer roles make?

Salaries for Detention Officer level roles vary by specialization: Detention Enforcement Officer: $68,369; Detention Services Officer: $67,160; Detention Deputy: $52,735; Detention Specialist: $51,404; Juvenile Detention Officer: $51,095.

Detention Officer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Detention Officer make in Delaware?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Detention Officer in Delaware is $53,733 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,032
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,674 to $58,600
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,980

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Detention Officer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$58,600	$4,883	$1,127	$28
Average	$53,733	$4,478	$1,033	$26
25th Percentile	$49,674	$4,140	$955	$24

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Detention Officer Job Openings in Delaware

Armed Detention Officer (Operations)

United Security, Inc. (USI) - Wilmington, DE

Detention Officer

The GEO Group - BALDWIN, MI

Development Officer

American National Red Cross - MILWAUKEE, WI

Security Officer

Securitas - KAPAA, HI

Search More Detention Officer Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Detention Officer Salaries

A Detention Officer'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Detention Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Detention Officer'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): $53,071
Early Career (1-2 years): $53,518
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,592
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $54,806
Expert (over 8 years): $54,949

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Detention Officer	$53,071
Intermediate Level Detention Officer	$53,518
Senior Level Detention Officer	$54,592
Specialist Level Detention Officer	$54,806
Expert Level Detention Officer	$54,949

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Detention Officer 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 Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $58,747.
California: $58,524.
Massachusetts: $57,744.

District of Columbia $58,747 California $58,524 Massachusetts $57,744 Washington $57,532 New Jersey $57,510 Alaska $57,436 Connecticut $56,704 New York $56,407

Hawaii $55,457 Rhode Island $55,011 Maryland $54,709 Minnesota $54,295 Colorado $54,136 Illinois $54,083 Oregon $53,881 Delaware $53,733

New Hampshire $53,639 Virginia $53,430 Pennsylvania $52,820 Nevada $52,512 North Dakota $52,411 Michigan $52,252 Wisconsin $52,194 Vermont $52,077

Texas $51,753 Maine $51,732 Arizona $51,700 Ohio $51,663 Georgia $51,175 Indiana $50,931 Wyoming $50,883 Utah $50,809

Iowa $50,777 Kansas $50,522 Louisiana $50,448 North Carolina $50,422 Missouri $50,411 Florida $50,204 Montana $50,093 Nebraska $49,987

Kentucky $49,928 South Carolina $49,716 Tennessee $49,583 Idaho $49,530 New Mexico $49,143 Oklahoma $49,058 Alabama $48,745 South Dakota $48,220

Arkansas $47,933 West Virginia $47,779 Mississippi $47,318

Top Paying Cities for Detention Officers

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:

Lincoln: $53,491
Little Creek: $53,882
Magnolia: $53,805

Lincoln, DE $53,491 Little Creek, DE $53,882 Magnolia, DE $53,805 Milford, DE $53,626 Marydel, DE $53,715 Millsboro, DE $53,266 Millville, DE $53,348 Milton, DE $53,441

Nassau, DE $53,479 Ocean View, DE $53,339 Rehoboth Beach, DE $53,442 Seaford, DE $53,472 Selbyville, DE $53,251 Smyrna, DE $53,919 Viola, DE $53,671 Woodside, DE $53,815

Bear, DE $53,691 Newark, DE $53,671 Claymont, DE $53,781 Delaware City, DE $53,725 Hockessin, DE $53,666 Kirkwood, DE $53,715 Middletown, DE $53,735 Montchanin, DE $53,678

New Castle, DE $53,686 Odessa, DE $53,762 Port Penn, DE $53,798 Rockland, DE $53,684 Saint Georges, DE $53,718 Townsend, DE $53,801 Winterthur, DE $53,690 Lewes, DE $53,461

Wilmington, DE $53,669 Dover, DE $53,882 Dover Afb, DE $53,598 Bethany Beach, DE $53,283 Bethel, DE $53,338 Bridgeville, DE $53,464 Camden Wyoming, DE $53,730 Cheswold, DE $53,865

Clayton, DE $53,866 Dagsboro, DE $53,246 Delmar, DE $53,161 Ellendale, DE $53,322 Felton, DE $53,622 Fenwick Island, DE $53,258 Frankford, DE $53,165 Frederica, DE $53,675

Georgetown, DE $53,226 Greenwood, DE $53,473 Harbeson, DE $53,283 Harrington, DE $53,554 Hartly, DE $53,721 Houston, DE $53,478 Kenton, DE $53,869 Laurel, DE $53,194

Yorklyn, DE $53,682

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

Understanding how a Detention Officer'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 August 01, 2026

$49,674

Average $53,733/year

$58,600

$4,140

Average $4,478/month

$4,883

$955

Average $1,033/week

$1,127

$24

Average $26/hour

$28

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$58,600	$4,883	$1,127	$28
Average	$53,733	$4,478	$1,033	$26
25th Percentile	$49,674	$4,140	$955	$24

Salaries of jobs related to Detention Officer

Find Your Next Detention Officer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Detention Officer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

Securitas

KIHEI, HI

Security Officer

Securitas | KIHEI, HI

Securitas is seeking Security Officers for our Maui Wailea client site. In this role, you will control access, conduct foot and vehicle patrols, monitor al... more

5 Days Ago
American National Red Cross

CLAWSON, MI

Medical Officer

American National Red Cross | CLAWSON, MI

The American National Red Cross seeks a Medical Officer to provide clinical leadership for humanitarian programs, including disaster response, blood servic... more

5 Days Ago
American National Red Cross

DEARBORN, MI

Medical Officer

American National Red Cross | DEARBORN, MI

The American National Red Cross seeks a Medical Officer to provide clinical leadership for humanitarian programs, including disaster response, blood servic... more

5 Days Ago
American National Red Cross

CASCADE, MI

Medical Officer

American National Red Cross | CASCADE, MI

The American National Red Cross seeks a Medical Officer to provide clinical leadership for humanitarian programs, including disaster response, blood servic... more

5 Days Ago
American National Red Cross

BARTON HILLS, MI

Medical Officer

American National Red Cross | BARTON HILLS, MI

The American National Red Cross seeks a Medical Officer to provide clinical leadership for humanitarian programs, including disaster response, blood servic... more

5 Days Ago
American National Red Cross

RICHMOND, VA

Medical Officer

American National Red Cross | RICHMOND, VA

The American National Red Cross seeks a Medical Officer to provide clinical leadership for humanitarian programs, including disaster response, blood servic... more

5 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about

Salary Search

Salary Calculator Tools

Know Your Worth

Advance at Work

Explore Career Path

Land Your Next Role

Software + AI

Data

Survey Catalogue