First-line supervisors of correctional officers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,330 | $25.16 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $77,970 | $37.49 |
| Mean (average) | $84,380 | $40.57 |
| 90th percentile | $127,780 | $61.43 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
First-line supervisors of correctional officers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $80,230 | $46,630 | $102,960 | 470 | 0.65 |
| Alaska | $98,420 | $82,220 | $131,900 | 300 | 2.7 |
| Arizona | $74,840 | $67,570 | $99,490 | 890 | 0.8 |
| Arkansas | $49,590 | $39,610 | $66,330 | 1,720 | 3.85 |
| California | $131,210 | $108,830 | $155,600 | 4,550 | 0.73 |
| Colorado | $81,460 | $70,610 | $118,710 | 810 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | $89,160 | $77,750 | $106,390 | 490 | 0.85 |
| Delaware | $84,760 | $59,160 | $104,880 | 240 | 1.44 |
| Florida | $55,620 | $51,850 | $100,740 | 6,480 | 1.9 |
| Georgia | $58,640 | $48,740 | $77,790 | 2,310 | 1.38 |
| Hawaii | $97,200 | $82,240 | $113,800 | 60 | 0.28 |
| Idaho | $79,330 | $60,110 | $105,680 | 160 | 0.56 |
| Illinois | $105,450 | $83,990 | $160,790 | 2,860 | 1.36 |
| Indiana | $61,460 | $49,390 | $84,810 | 1,360 | 1.24 |
| Iowa | $74,420 | $57,350 | $97,040 | 310 | 0.57 |
| Kansas | $71,590 | $50,030 | $95,230 | 1,080 | 2.2 |
| Kentucky | $62,780 | $36,280 | $87,580 | 780 | 1.14 |
| Louisiana | $58,960 | $44,890 | $90,080 | 1,300 | 1.95 |
| Maine | $67,750 | $57,160 | $82,190 | 140 | 0.64 |
| Maryland | $79,150 | $67,210 | $117,190 | 2,010 | 2.12 |
| Massachusetts | $105,930 | $83,050 | $127,950 | 460 | 0.37 |
| Michigan | $78,150 | $63,690 | $103,330 | 1,020 | 0.68 |
| Minnesota | $96,720 | $75,620 | $119,620 | 750 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | $56,470 | $37,180 | $90,560 | 340 | 0.85 |
| Missouri | $46,840 | $46,840 | $73,030 | 1,090 | 1.08 |
| Montana | $74,630 | $59,160 | $78,120 | 240 | 1.38 |
| Nebraska | $80,490 | $60,930 | $105,020 | 340 | 0.95 |
| Nevada | $107,260 | $82,930 | $139,150 | 190 | 0.36 |
| New Hampshire | $85,550 | $63,140 | $101,880 | 150 | 0.64 |
| New Jersey | $117,450 | $105,200 | $139,090 | 1,340 | 0.91 |
| New Mexico | $63,380 | $56,510 | $87,610 | 530 | 1.79 |
| New York | $103,320 | $79,770 | $126,510 | 3,380 | 1.02 |
| North Carolina | $67,270 | $51,130 | $94,300 | 1,090 | 0.64 |
| North Dakota | $73,240 | $50,960 | $94,130 | 180 | 1.2 |
| Ohio | $77,570 | $51,770 | $102,810 | 600 | 0.32 |
| Oklahoma | $56,100 | $43,990 | $82,810 | 530 | 0.9 |
| Oregon | $99,890 | $86,090 | $130,380 | 610 | 0.9 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,600 | $63,230 | $119,870 | 1,520 | 0.73 |
| South Carolina | $77,110 | $50,350 | $108,570 | 360 | 0.46 |
| South Dakota | $77,400 | $61,890 | $88,820 | 80 | 0.51 |
| Tennessee | $74,140 | $37,930 | $92,120 | 740 | 0.66 |
| Texas | $62,590 | $59,890 | $97,080 | 4,200 | 0.87 |
| Utah | $110,410 | $76,320 | $129,960 | 340 | 0.57 |
| Vermont | $81,700 | $66,460 | $98,160 | 60 | 0.55 |
| Virginia | $64,190 | $54,600 | $99,600 | 2,230 | 1.58 |
| Washington | $98,910 | $82,560 | $124,530 | 1,400 | 1.15 |
| West Virginia | $56,490 | $39,850 | $96,100 | 230 | 0.94 |
| Wisconsin | $96,260 | $74,070 | $108,240 | 800 | 0.79 |
| Wyoming | $70,770 | $65,210 | $95,660 | 110 | 1.12 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for first-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for first-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General CIP 43.0100
- Corrections CIP 43.0102
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies CIP 43.0104
- Corrections Administration CIP 43.0113
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
- Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
- Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
- Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
- Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
- Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
- Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public.
- Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- 3M Electronic Monitoring
- Email software
- Guardian RFID
- Jail management software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Management of Personnel Resources, Persuasion, Negotiation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Correctional Officer Captain, Correctional Supervisor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do first-line supervisors of correctional officers make?
The national median annual wage for first-line supervisors of correctional officers was $77,970 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $52,330 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $127,780. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do first-line supervisors of correctional officers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is first-line supervisors of correctional officers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of correctional officers to change -2.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay first-line supervisors of correctional officers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($131,210), New Jersey ($117,450), Utah ($110,410). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.