Correctional Officers and Jailers Pay Range in South Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$40,090
- 25th Percentile — Junior$43,790
- 50th Percentile — Median$47,890
- 75th Percentile — Senior$58,530
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$71,390
Half of Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Carolina earn more than $47,890. The top 10% make $71,390 or more, while entry-level workers start around $40,090.
Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Carolina ranks 37th of 49 states for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay, at $51,520 per year (19.0% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 4,870 people work as Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Carolina — 1.3% of all U.S. Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.86: Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs are less concentrated in South Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,090; the top 10% earn over $71,390.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.77 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $92,410.
- Among public safety jobs in South Carolina, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($81,260).
Correctional Officers and Jailers Job Market in South Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
South Carolina's key industries are Automotive, Tourism, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated strong. Correctional Officers and Jailers here earn $51,520 on average, placing the state 37th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Carolina salary of $51,520 is roughly equivalent to $58,545 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($53,770), Texas ($53,330), South Dakota ($53,260) 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 South Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $81,260/yr South Carolina +57.7% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $77,020/yr South Carolina +49.5% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $70,880/yr South Carolina +37.6% vs this role
- Police Officers $60,420/yr South Carolina +17.3% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $58,980/yr South Carolina +14.5% vs this role
- Firefighters $43,900/yr South Carolina 14.8% vs this role
- Security Guards $37,060/yr South Carolina 28.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in South Carolina?
The average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in South Carolina is $51,520 per year (median $47,890), which is 19.0% below the national average of $63,630.
How does South Carolina rank for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay?
South Carolina ranks 37th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is California ($92,410/yr).
How much do entry-level Correctional Officers and Jailers make in South Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Carolina earn about $40,090 per year and the 25th percentile is $43,790.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers make per hour in South Carolina?
About $24.77 per hour, based on the $51,520 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Correctional Officers and Jailers work in South Carolina?
BLS counts 4,870 Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs in South Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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