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The average salary for a Juvenile Detention Officer stands at $49,263 annually, translating to approximately $24 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with several years of experience can expect higher compensation.
In terms of geographical disparity, states like California and New York tend to offer the highest salaries for juvenile detention officers, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for these professionals. Additionally, factors such as education and specialization can further influence earnings.
To maximize your earning potential, consider gaining certifications or additional training relevant to juvenile justice, which can open up higher-paying job opportunities within the field. For those interested in this career path, it's crucial to stay informed about salary trends and job prospects to make well-informed decisions about your career.
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The average juvenile detention officer salary in Hawaii, Nevada, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average juvenile detention officer salary states are Idaho, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $62,995 | $30.29 |
| 2 | New York | $61,588 | $29.61 |
| 3 | Arizona | $53,370 | $25.66 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $58,009 | $27.89 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $57,387 | $27.59 |
| 6 | Oregon | $59,968 | $28.83 |
| 7 | Maryland | $54,942 | $26.41 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $49,437 | $23.77 |
| 9 | Washington | $56,723 | $27.27 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $50,437 | $24.25 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $53,002 | $25.48 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $65,675 | $31.57 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $50,801 | $24.42 |
| 14 | Colorado | $50,109 | $24.09 |
| 15 | Illinois | $48,013 | $23.08 |
| 16 | Ohio | $50,712 | $24.38 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $46,039 | $22.13 |
| 18 | Alaska | $51,430 | $24.73 |
| 19 | Alabama | $44,719 | $21.50 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $44,932 | $21.60 |
| 21 | Iowa | $44,863 | $21.57 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $44,902 | $21.59 |
| 23 | Delaware | $49,485 | $23.79 |
| 24 | Virginia | $44,491 | $21.39 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $43,927 | $21.12 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $43,978 | $21.14 |
| 27 | Utah | $47,009 | $22.60 |
| 28 | Vermont | $44,818 | $21.55 |
| 29 | Michigan | $43,502 | $20.91 |
| 30 | Florida | $48,025 | $23.09 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $40,464 | $19.45 |
| 32 | Maine | $39,814 | $19.14 |
| 33 | California | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $48,517 | $23.33 |
| 35 | Kansas | $41,307 | $19.86 |
| 36 | Idaho | $36,115 | $17.36 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $40,747 | $19.59 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $41,644 | $20.02 |
| 39 | Indiana | $38,043 | $18.29 |
| 40 | Georgia | $36,564 | $17.58 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $35,737 | $17.18 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,078 | $18.31 |
| 43 | Texas | $39,177 | $18.84 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,651 | $18.10 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $37,422 | $17.99 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $36,908 | $17.74 |
| 47 | Montana | $38,733 | $18.62 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $35,917 | $17.27 |
| 49 | Missouri | $32,424 | $15.59 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $29,431 | $14.15 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $33,180 | $15.95 |
The highest-paying cities for juvenile detention officers are Urban Honolulu, HI, Olympia, WA, and North Brunswick, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $65,599 | $31.54 |
| 2 | Olympia, WA | $58,186 | $27.97 |
| 3 | North Brunswick, NJ | $57,560 | $27.67 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $56,377 | $27.10 |
| 5 | Buffalo, NY | $56,018 | $26.93 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,404 | $25.68 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $50,808 | $24.43 |
| 8 | Waukegan, IL | $48,682 | $23.40 |
| 9 | Stockton, CA | $48,413 | $23.28 |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX | $41,555 | $19.98 |
| 11 | Caldwell, ID | $37,167 | $17.87 |
| 12 | Murfreesboro, TN | $36,729 | $17.66 |
A juvenile detention officer's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $49,263 | $4,105 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of juvenile detention officers are house officer, reserve officer, and corporal.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporal | $51,741 | $4,312 | $24.88 | 320 |
| Corrections Deputy | $45,103 | $3,759 | $21.68 | 80,964 |
| Custodial Officer | $42,867 | $3,572 | $20.61 | 101,579 |
| Classification Officer | $41,484 | $3,457 | $19.94 | 80,891 |
| Correction Officer | $39,369 | $3,281 | $18.93 | 103,383 |
| Detention Officer | $40,087 | $3,341 | $19.27 | 116,529 |
Top companies hiring juvenile detention officers now:
Juvenile detention officer salaries at King County and Wayne County, Michigan are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average juvenile detention officer salary at companies like Lake County and North Carolina Department of Public Safety are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King County | $62,497 | $30.05 |
| 2 | Wayne County, Michigan | $61,006 | $29.33 |
| 3 | Lake County | $58,049 | $27.91 |
| 4 | North Carolina Department of Public Safety | $57,036 | $27.42 |
| 5 | Travis County | $56,766 | $27.29 |
| 6 | State of Connecticut | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| 7 | Florida Department of Transportation | $56,364 | $27.10 |
| 8 | Fort Bend County | $55,075 | $26.48 |
| 9 | State Of Florida | $54,975 | $26.43 |
| 10 | SHASTA COUNTY | $54,373 | $26.14 |
| 11 | Florida Dept. of Health | $53,022 | $25.49 |
| 12 | Denton County | $49,909 | $23.99 |
| 13 | My Florida Regional Mls | $49,767 | $23.93 |
| 14 | Maricopa County | $49,722 | $23.90 |
| 15 | Bexar County | $49,593 | $23.84 |
| 16 | Nueces County | $49,340 | $23.72 |
| 17 | Canyon County | $48,452 | $23.29 |
| 18 | NC.gov | $48,081 | $23.12 |
| 19 | Ada County | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| 20 | Rutherford County | $47,901 | $23.03 |
The average juvenile detention officer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $56,388 | $27.11 |
| 2 | Government | $53,332 | $25.64 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $52,627 | $25.30 |
| 4 | Education | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| 5 | Professional | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| 6 | Health Care | $44,592 | $21.44 |
The average juvenile detention officer salary has risen by $8,749 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average juvenile detention officer earned $40,514 annually, but today, they earn $49,263 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for juvenile detention officers over the last decade.
Compare juvenile detention officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare juvenile detention officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,300 | $23.68 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $46,900 | $22.57 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $46,100 | $22.15 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $45,200 | $21.75 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $44,500 | $21.39 | +5.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kootenai County, Id | Juvenile Detention Officer | Coeur dAlene, ID | 06/30/2025 | $48,523 |
| City of Lincoln, Ne | Juvenile Detention Officer | Lincoln, NE | 06/28/2025 | $51,862 |
| Pierce County, Wa | Juvenile Detention Officer-Temporary | Tacoma, WA | 06/28/2025 | $50,000 |
| State of Florida | Juvenile Justice Detention Officer I | Orlando, FL | 06/27/2025 | $85,769 |
| Middlesex County | Juvenile Detention Officer | North Brunswick, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $42,000 |
| Vigo County, Indiana | Juvenile Center: Detention Officer *Internal Only* | Terre Haute, IN | 06/24/2025 | $46,039 |
| Yavapai County, Az | Juvenile Detention Officer Entry-JPO | Prescott, AZ | 06/22/2025 | $47,396 |
| Monroe County Business de Velopment Corp | Juvenile Detention Specialst-Variable Hour | Monroe, MI | 06/16/2025 | $43,514 |
| County of Monroe | Juvenile Detention Specialst-Variable Hour | Monroe, MI | 06/16/2025 | $43,514 |
| Rutherford County, Tn | Detention Officer-Juvenile Detention Center | Toone, TN | 06/15/2025 | $46,461 |
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