Correctional Officers and Jailers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$63,380
- 25th Percentile — Junior$76,370
- 50th Percentile — Median$96,370
- 75th Percentile — Senior$109,580
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$114,730
Half of Correctional Officers and Jailers in California earn more than $96,370. The top 10% make $114,730 or more, while entry-level workers start around $63,380.
Correctional Officers and Jailers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 49 states for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay, at $92,410 per year (45.2% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 37,860 people work as Correctional Officers and Jailers in California — 10.0% of all U.S. Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.85: Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,380; the top 10% earn over $114,730.
- Hourly equivalent: $44.43 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among public safety jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($163,210).
Correctional Officers and Jailers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Correctional Officers and Jailers here earn $92,410 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $92,410 is roughly equivalent to $65,077 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Jersey ($87,780), Massachusetts ($82,890), Nevada ($82,150) are the closest alternatives for Correctional Officers and Jailers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $163,210/yr California +76.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $151,620/yr California +64.1% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $121,530/yr California +31.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $112,980/yr California +22.3% vs this role
- Firefighters $95,090/yr California +2.9% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $67,040/yr California 27.5% vs this role
- Security Guards $44,920/yr California 51.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in California?
The average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in California is $92,410 per year (median $96,370), which is 45.2% above the national average of $63,630.
How does California rank for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay?
California ranks 1st out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is California ($92,410/yr).
How much do entry-level Correctional Officers and Jailers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Correctional Officers and Jailers in California earn about $63,380 per year and the 25th percentile is $76,370.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers make per hour in California?
About $44.43 per hour, based on the $92,410 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Correctional Officers and Jailers work in California?
BLS counts 37,860 Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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