Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Illinois make a median of $79,190 a year, or about $38.07 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $84,379 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Illinois?
About correctional officers and jailers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for correctional officers and jailers, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary by metro in Illinois
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $85K | +7% | 4,940 |
| Peoria | $65K | -18% | 220 |
| Springfield | $61K | -23% | 140 |
| Rockford | $57K | -28% | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $56K | -29% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track correctional officers and jailers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for correctional officers and jailers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,031/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $79K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
Illinois pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in Illinois?
The median is $79,190 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,520, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $102,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,015/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a correctional officers and jailers salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $84,379 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.