Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in California make a median of $96,370 a year, or about $46.33 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $90,795 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 40.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in California?
About correctional officers and jailers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for correctional officers and jailers, local pay runs about 64% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 41.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary by metro in California
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $133K | +38% | 1,050 |
| Salinas | $110K | +14% | 1,510 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $107K | +11% | 1,220 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $107K | +11% | 710 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $107K | +11% | 3,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $100K | +4% | 1,500 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $95K | -2% | 470 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $95K | -2% | 4,800 |
| Fresno | $94K | -2% | 2,660 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $90K | -7% | 1,920 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $81K | -16% | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $79K | -18% | 6,070 |
| Merced | $78K | -19% | 270 |
| Redding | $58K | -40% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 41.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for correctional officers and jailers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,803/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is correctional officers and jailer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 64% above the national median — $96K here vs. $59K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
California pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +64%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in California?
The median is $96,370 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,380, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $114,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,924/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 41.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a correctional officers and jailers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median correctional officers and jailers salary is worth about $90,795 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do correctional officers and jailers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.