Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Delaware make a median of $65,880 a year, or about $31.67 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $67,562 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $66K get you in Delaware?
About correctional officers and jailers
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What this looks like in Delaware
Delaware sits well above the national pay line for correctional officers and jailers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,448/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track correctional officers and jailers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,791/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Delaware?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $66K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
Delaware pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in Delaware?
The median is $65,880 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,520, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $79,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,303/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 33.7% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median correctional officers and jailers salary is worth about $67,562 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.