Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Dakota make a median of $52,460 a year, or about $25.22 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $59,017 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in North Dakota?
About correctional officers and jailers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for correctional officers and jailers in North Dakota runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, North Dakota
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary by metro in North Dakota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $54K | +3% | 290 |
| Bismarck | $51K | -3% | 300 |
| Grand Forks | $50K | -4% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track correctional officers and jailers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for correctional officers and jailers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,855/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $52K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
North Dakota pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in North Dakota?
The median is $52,460 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,580, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $62,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 28.7% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $59,017 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.