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Salary comparison

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs. Security Guards: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers out-earn Security Guards by $40K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers land at $77,970 and Security Guards at $38,020. The education gap is real: first-line supervisors of correctional officer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while security guard programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers is California ($131,210); for Security Guards it's District of Columbia ($64,210).

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Security Guards
Median salary
$77,970
$38,020
Hourly rate
$37.49/hr
$18.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$52,330
$30,210
Senior level (90th %)
$127,780
$58,840
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
53,380
1,283,470
Job growth (10-year)
-2.8%
0.4%
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
California
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers median pay.

State
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Security Guards
California
$131,210
$43,240
Utah
$110,410
$42,700
Massachusetts
$105,930
$44,670
New York
$103,320
$44,240
Oregon
$99,890
$45,500
Washington
$98,910
$47,100
Alaska
$98,420
$47,480
Hawaii
$97,200
$42,820
Minnesota
$96,720
$43,380
New Hampshire
$85,550
$45,200
Vermont
$81,700
$45,550
Colorado
$81,460
$45,150
Virginia
$64,190
$43,640
New Mexico
$63,380
$43,320
Missouri
$46,840
$40,390

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers or Security Guards?

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers earn more nationally. The median is $77,970 for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers versus $38,020 for Security Guards, a difference of $40K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers or Security Guards?

Security Guards has the better 10-year outlook at 0.4% projected growth, compared to -2.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers or Security Guards?

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Security Guards requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers at $131,210/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs. Security Guards pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers earn $131,210 vs. $43,240 for Security Guards. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers salary breakdownView →Full Security Guards salary breakdownView →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Security Guards by take-home payExplore →How to become a first-line supervisors of correctional officersGuide →How to become a security guardsGuide →