Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest information on correction officer salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Hawaii offers the highest correction officer salary at $59,246.
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Arkansas has the lowest correction officer salary at $27,584.
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The national average salary for correction officers stands at $39,369.
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The national hourly wage for correction officers is $18.93.
For more details, you can read about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a critical factor in job satisfaction for many professionals. Understanding correction officers salaries in your area is essential for career planning.
While individual salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and department, our data provides a reliable overview of what correction officers can expect to earn across the United States.
Currently, Hawaii tops the list for the highest average salary for correction officers.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for correction officer salaries in 2026:
Next, let’s examine the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Correction Officers By State
| Rank | State | Average Correction Officer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $59,246 | $50,000 | $69,000 |
| 2 | New York | $52,522 | $36,000 | $76,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $51,191 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $50,721 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 5 | California | $50,335 | $33,000 | $74,000 |
| 6 | Nevada | $49,301 | $33,000 | $72,000 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $48,350 | $33,000 | $70,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $48,252 | $33,000 | $69,000 |
| 9 | Illinois | $48,164 | $35,000 | $66,000 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $47,867 | $34,000 | $66,000 |
| 11 | Colorado | $46,222 | $33,000 | $63,000 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $44,907 | $31,000 | $63,000 |
| 13 | Maryland | $44,438 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $44,329 | $30,000 | $64,000 |
| 15 | Alaska | $43,886 | $34,000 | $56,000 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $43,804 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 17 | Vermont | $43,576 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $41,194 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| 19 | Delaware | $40,822 | $27,000 | $59,000 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $40,613 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 21 | Ohio | $40,569 | $28,000 | $57,000 |
| 22 | Iowa | $40,246 | $29,000 | $54,000 |
| 23 | Maine | $38,946 | $28,000 | $52,000 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $38,818 | $27,000 | $53,000 |
| 25 | Utah | $37,730 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 26 | Alabama | $37,269 | $27,000 | $50,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $36,624 | $24,000 | $53,000 |
| 28 | Kansas | $36,517 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $36,440 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $36,413 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $36,166 | $25,000 | $51,000 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $35,731 | $25,000 | $49,000 |
| 33 | Virginia | $35,422 | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 34 | Idaho | $35,119 | $24,000 | $49,000 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $34,273 | $24,000 | $47,000 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $34,120 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $33,858 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $33,516 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $33,252 | $23,000 | $46,000 |
| 40 | Indiana | $32,637 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $31,406 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $31,387 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $31,273 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $30,205 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Montana | $29,322 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $29,079 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $28,977 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 48 | Missouri | $28,949 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $28,841 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $27,584 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
Methodology: Correction Officer Salary By State
To accurately assess correction officer salaries by state, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, and supplemented this with actual salaries posted in job listings. Our data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average pay for correction officers in each state.
We ranked all states based on the average annual salary data, highlighting the state with the highest salary as the leader in correction officer compensation.
Correction Officer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for correction officers?
The highest-paid state for correction officers is Hawaii, with an average salary of $59,246 per year.
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What city pays correction officers the most?
Urban Honolulu, HI, pays correction officers the most, with an average salary of $59,248 per year.
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What is the worst state for correction officers?
The state with the lowest average salary for correction officers is Arkansas, with an average salary of $27,584 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
