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Detention officer salary
Average detention officer salary
$40,087
Understanding the Detention Officer Salary
The role of a detention officer is crucial in maintaining safety within correctional facilities. As of October 2025, the national average salary for detention officers stands at $40,087 annually, or about $19 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location, experience, and specific job duties.
Salary by State
In certain states, detention officers earn considerably more due to regional demand and cost of living adjustments. For example, states like California and New York often offer salaries above the national average. Understanding local salary trends is essential for prospective officers looking to maximize their earning potential.
Experience Levels and Salary Growth
Entry-level detention officers typically start at lower salary ranges, but with experience, there is potential for significant salary increases. Officers with specialized training or those who advance to supervisory roles can see their earnings rise substantially.
Job Opportunities
With a growing emphasis on public safety, the demand for qualified detention officers remains strong. Job seekers can find opportunities in a variety of settings, including local jails, state prisons, and federal facilities, making this a promising career choice for those interested in law enforcement.
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Where can a Detention Officer earn more?
Detention officer salaries by experience level
Detention officer salary estimates from across the web
Average detention officer salary by state
The average detention officer salary in Hawaii, Washington, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average detention officer salary states are Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for detention officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $50,675 | $24.36 |
| 2 | Washington | $52,596 | $25.29 |
| 3 | New York | $52,237 | $25.11 |
| 4 | California | $51,492 | $24.76 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $57,991 | $27.88 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| 7 | Oregon | $49,430 | $23.76 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $44,462 | $21.38 |
| 9 | Illinois | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| 10 | Arizona | $42,936 | $20.64 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $47,051 | $22.62 |
| 12 | Ohio | $41,362 | $19.89 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $48,225 | $23.19 |
| 14 | Colorado | $43,177 | $20.76 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $45,035 | $21.65 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $39,837 | $19.15 |
| 17 | Maryland | $45,461 | $21.86 |
| 18 | Vermont | $42,949 | $20.65 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $44,069 | $21.19 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 21 | Iowa | $41,192 | $19.80 |
| 22 | Alaska | $43,782 | $21.05 |
| 23 | Alabama | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| 24 | Delaware | $40,879 | $19.65 |
| 25 | Idaho | $35,981 | $17.30 |
| 26 | Michigan | $38,426 | $18.47 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $37,222 | $17.90 |
| 28 | Maine | $38,351 | $18.44 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $34,899 | $16.78 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $37,075 | $17.82 |
| 31 | Utah | $38,698 | $18.60 |
| 32 | Virginia | $35,948 | $17.28 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $36,704 | $17.65 |
| 34 | Kansas | $37,411 | $17.99 |
| 35 | Texas | $37,338 | $17.95 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $40,047 | $19.25 |
| 37 | Florida | $32,212 | $15.49 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $32,566 | $15.66 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $29,417 | $14.14 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $35,253 | $16.95 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $34,424 | $16.55 |
| 43 | Missouri | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| 44 | Indiana | $33,478 | $16.10 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $34,349 | $16.51 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $29,882 | $14.37 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| 48 | Georgia | $30,874 | $14.84 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $32,053 | $15.41 |
| 50 | Montana | $33,789 | $16.24 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $30,777 | $14.80 |
Highest paying cities for detention officers
The highest-paying cities for detention officers are San Francisco, CA, Albany, NY, and Annapolis, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $53,386 | $25.67 |
| 2 | Albany, NY | $49,987 | $24.03 |
| 3 | Annapolis, MD | $45,542 | $21.90 |
| 4 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| 5 | Aurora, CO | $43,189 | $20.76 |
| 6 | Des Moines, IA | $41,069 | $19.74 |
| 7 | Sterling Heights, MI | $38,704 | $18.61 |
| 8 | Del Rio, TX | $37,745 | $18.15 |
| 9 | Las Cruces, NM | $36,824 | $17.70 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $34,711 | $16.69 |
| 11 | Edmond, OK | $32,537 | $15.64 |
| 12 | Gainesville, FL | $32,194 | $15.48 |
| 13 | Marietta, GA | $30,961 | $14.89 |
Detention officer salary details
A detention officer's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a detention officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $40,087 | $3,341 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying detention officer jobs
The highest paying types of detention officers are detective, criminal investigator, and deputy.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy | $53,682 | $4,473 | $25.81 | 56,150 |
| Criminal Investigator | $54,520 | $4,543 | $26.21 | 5,131 |
| Police Cadet | $33,243 | $2,770 | $15.98 | 94,220 |
| Loss Prevention Analyst | $38,684 | $3,224 | $18.60 | 62,658 |
| Military Police Officer | $38,080 | $3,173 | $18.31 | 122,487 |
| Community Services Officer | $38,039 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 181,257 |
Top companies hiring detention officers now:
Which companies pay detention officers the most?
Detention officer salaries at Bering Straits and Anne Arundel County Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average detention officer salary at companies like Harnett County and Fort Bend County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bering Straits | $54,715 | $26.31 |
| 2 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $48,354 | $23.25 |
| 3 | Harnett County | $45,828 | $22.03 |
| 4 | Fort Bend County | $45,528 | $21.89 |
| 5 | Wake County | $44,485 | $21.39 |
| 6 | Inter-Con Security Systems | $44,428 | $21.36 |
| 7 | Forsyth County | $43,671 | $21.00 |
| 8 | Lake County | $42,187 | $20.28 |
| 9 | Allied Universal | $41,863 | $20.13 |
| 10 | Edmond Oklahoma | $41,818 | $20.10 |
| 11 | NANA | $41,799 | $20.10 |
| 12 | G4s Secure Solutions International Inc. | $41,755 | $20.07 |
| 13 | Coconino Community College | $41,052 | $19.74 |
| 14 | Rockingham County | $40,876 | $19.65 |
| 15 | Artesia | $40,754 | $19.59 |
| 16 | County of Yolo | $40,668 | $19.55 |
| 17 | Maricopa County | $40,629 | $19.53 |
| 18 | Henry County | $40,579 | $19.51 |
| 19 | G4S | $40,554 | $19.50 |
| 20 | Management & Training | $40,489 | $19.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Detention Officer salary by industry
The average detention officer salary varies across industries:
- The average detention officer salary in the insurance industry is $47,693, the highest of any industry.
- The average detention officer salary in the finance industry is $42,381.
- Detention officers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $40,956, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for detention officers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | $47,693 | $22.93 |
| 2 | Government | $42,381 | $20.38 |
| 3 | Utilities | $42,111 | $20.25 |
| 4 | Professional | $40,956 | $19.69 |
High paying detention officer jobs
Detention officer salary trends
The average detention officer salary has risen by $7,120 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average detention officer earned $32,967 annually, but today, they earn $40,087 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for detention officers over the last decade.
Compare detention officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average detention officer salary over time
Compare detention officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Detention officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,100 | $19.27 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $38,200 | $18.37 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $37,500 | $18.02 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $36,800 | $17.70 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $36,200 | $17.41 | +5.3% |
Recently added detention officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend County | Detention Officer-Civilian-Sheriff's Office | Richmond, TX | 06/29/2025 | $50,276 |
| Allied Universal | Transportation Detention Officer Armed | Beverly Hills, CA | 06/28/2025 | $99,049 |
| Cochise County | Detention Officer II | Bisbee, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $47,751 |
| Pulaski County (Ar | Detention Officer | Little Rock, AR | 06/28/2025 | $52,221 |
| City of Springfield, or | Detention Officer | Springfield, OR | 06/27/2025 | $62,171 |
| Lubbock County (Tx | Detention Officer | Lubbock, TX | 06/27/2025 | $56,976 |
| Msccn | Unarmed Male Detention Officers ! | Miami, FL | 06/26/2025 | $58,373 |
| Msccn | Armed Detention Officer | El Paso, TX | 06/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Pico de Gallo | Detention Officer | Anson, TX | 06/23/2025 | $47,229 |
| Nana Regional Corporation | Unarmed Male Detention Officers ! | Miami, FL | 06/19/2025 | $58,373 |
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