Detention Technician Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Detention Technician in the United States is $49,623 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,988
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,313 to $54,525
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,388
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,313 10% $41,388 90% $58,988 75% $54,525 $49,623 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Detention Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $54,525 $4,544 $1,049 $26
Average $49,623 $4,135 $954 $24
25th Percentile $45,313 $3,776 $871 $22
Check out Detention Technician Job Openings in the United States
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Blue Haven Pools - Hilton Head - BLUFFTON, SC

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U.S. Navy - CAMDEN, DE

Medical Technician

U.S. Navy - BETHANY BEACH, DE

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Key Factors That Influence Detention Technician Salaries

A Detention Technician'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 Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Detention Technician'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): $48,602
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,491
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $61,417
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $94,110
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,360
Levels Salary
Detention... Level Detention Technician$48,602
Waste Wat... Level Detention Technician$54,491
Waste Wat... Level Detention Technician$61,417
Waste Wat... Level Detention Technician$94,110
Waste Wat... Level Detention Technician$107,360
$48,602 0 yr
$54,491 < 2 yrs
$61,417 2-4 yrs
$94,110 5-8 yrs
$107,360 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $54,943.
  • California: $54,734.
  • Massachusetts: $54,005.

Top Paying Cities for Detention Technicians

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: $62,590
  • San Francisco: $61,974
  • Oakland: $60,600

What Skills Can Increase a Detention Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.86% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Environmental Science (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Environmental science refers to a grouping of scientific disciplines that are all concerned with the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the surroundings in which organisms live.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.86%
Environmental Science 1.88%
Preventive Maintenance 1.64%
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 Technician's salary.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 60%.
  • AutoCAD: Can increase your salary by up to 42%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budgeting
 $79,397
60%
AutoCAD
 $70,465
42%
Project Management
 $69,472
40%
Resource Management
 $68,480
38%
Surveying
 $67,984
37%
Consulting
 $66,991
35%
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How Education impacts a Detention Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Detention Technicians 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 Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $40,356 and $44,917).

Detention Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Detention Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.8%
High School 61.5%
Associates 7.7%
Bachelors 23.1%
Masters 3.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Detention Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Detention Technician'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$45,313
Average $49,623/year
$54,525
$3,776
Average $4,135/month
$4,544
$871
Average $954/week
$1,049
$22
Average $24/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $54,525 $4,544 $1,049 $26
Average $49,623 $4,135 $954 $24
25th Percentile $45,313 $3,776 $871 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Detention Technician

Salary Trends for Detention Technician

Salaries for a Detention Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $41,298 in 2023 to around $40,822 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Detention Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Detention Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$41,298
2024
$41,211
2025
$40,822
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $41,298
2024 $41,211
2025 $40,822
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Detention Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Detention Technician

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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.)

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