Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Virginia make a median of $50,140 a year, or about $24.11 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $52,896 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 50% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Virginia?
About correctional officers and jailers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for correctional officers and jailers in Virginia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for correctional officers and jailerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $54K | +8% | 130 |
| Charlottesville | $53K | +5% | 300 |
| Richmond | $52K | +3% | 1,930 |
| Harrisonburg | $51K | +2% | 100 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $50K | +0% | 150 |
| Roanoke | $50K | -0% | 270 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $50K | -0% | 1,520 |
| Lynchburg | $49K | -2% | 300 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $48K | -5% | 260 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,779/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $50K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
Virginia pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in Virginia?
The median is $50,140 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,320, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $70,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,330/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 49.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $52,896 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.