Correctional Captain Salary in the United States

How much does a Correctional Captain make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Correctional Captain in the United States is $53,475 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,738
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,438 to $58,324
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,762

Key Factors That Influence Correctional Captain Salaries

A Correctional Captain'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 Correctional Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Correctional Captain'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): $52,817
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $53,261
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,330
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $54,544
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,687
Levels Salary
Entry Level Correctional Captain$52,817
Intermediate Level Correctional Captain$53,261
Senior Level Correctional Captain$54,330
Specialist Level Correctional Captain$54,544
Expert Level Correctional Captain$54,687

Top Paying Cities for Correctional Captains

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: $67,448
  • San Francisco: $66,709
  • Oakland: $65,303

What Skills Can Increase a Correctional Captain'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%

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 Correctional Captain'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 $57,753
8%
Active Listening $57,753
8%
Problem Solving $56,683
6%

How Education impacts a Correctional Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Correctional Captains 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 Correctional Captain with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $46,708 and $49,951).

Correctional Captain Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Correctional Captain
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%

Correctional Captain Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Correctional Captain'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 October 01, 2026
$49,438
Average $53,475/year
$58,324
$4,120
Average $4,456/month
$4,860
$951
Average $1,028/week
$1,122
$24
Average $26/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,324 $4,860 $1,122 $28
Average $53,475 $4,456 $1,028 $26
25th Percentile $49,438 $4,120 $951 $24

Most common benefits for Correctional Captain

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

Common company salaries for Correctional Captain

Here are companies hiring for Correctional Captain 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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