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The average salary for a Corrections Counselor in the United States stands at approximately $48,875 per year, translating to around $24 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as experience level, geographic location, and the specific correctional facility. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced counselors can earn significantly higher salaries.
States like California and New York often report higher salaries due to cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For example, the highest-paying states for corrections counselors include:
Additionally, counselors working in federal facilities tend to have higher earning potential compared to those in state or local prisons. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers negotiate salaries effectively and make informed career decisions.
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The average corrections counselor salary in California, Alaska, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average corrections counselor salary states are Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Maine.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $65,020 | $31.26 |
| 2 | Washington | $54,099 | $26.01 |
| 3 | Georgia | $53,798 | $25.86 |
| 4 | Alaska | $54,382 | $26.15 |
| 5 | Oregon | $52,183 | $25.09 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $49,796 | $23.94 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $56,578 | $27.20 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $46,541 | $22.38 |
| 9 | Nevada | $51,485 | $24.75 |
| 10 | New York | $50,473 | $24.27 |
| 11 | Kansas | $51,469 | $24.74 |
| 12 | Arizona | $46,428 | $22.32 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $47,259 | $22.72 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $46,103 | $22.16 |
| 15 | Colorado | $48,476 | $23.31 |
| 16 | Maryland | $47,538 | $22.85 |
| 17 | Iowa | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| 18 | Virginia | $50,643 | $24.35 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $46,291 | $22.26 |
| 20 | Illinois | $47,393 | $22.79 |
| 21 | Texas | $47,783 | $22.97 |
| 22 | Florida | $46,131 | $22.18 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $45,520 | $21.88 |
| 24 | Indiana | $45,787 | $22.01 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $47,345 | $22.76 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $44,552 | $21.42 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $45,456 | $21.85 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $47,066 | $22.63 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $45,209 | $21.74 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $44,356 | $21.32 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $44,893 | $21.58 |
| 33 | Delaware | $44,317 | $21.31 |
| 34 | Vermont | $44,759 | $21.52 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $42,439 | $20.40 |
| 36 | Ohio | $43,935 | $21.12 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $43,588 | $20.96 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $42,965 | $20.66 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $42,036 | $20.21 |
| 40 | Montana | $40,105 | $19.28 |
| 41 | Maine | $35,221 | $16.93 |
| 42 | Utah | $43,411 | $20.87 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $41,521 | $19.96 |
| 44 | Idaho | $39,202 | $18.85 |
| 45 | Missouri | $40,482 | $19.46 |
| 46 | Michigan | $34,217 | $16.45 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $36,272 | $17.44 |
| 48 | Alabama | $38,863 | $18.68 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $37,452 | $18.01 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $32,813 | $15.78 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $29,972 | $14.41 |
The highest-paying cities for corrections counselors are Santa Rosa, CA, Anchorage, AK, and Macon, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $65,449 | $31.47 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $54,604 | $26.25 |
| 3 | Macon, GA | $53,995 | $25.96 |
| 4 | Salem, OR | $52,278 | $25.13 |
| 5 | Greeley, CO | $48,328 | $23.23 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $46,477 | $22.34 |
| 7 | Florence, AZ | $46,457 | $22.34 |
| 8 | Chester, PA | $46,185 | $22.20 |
| 9 | Duluth, MN | $45,503 | $21.88 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $44,344 | $21.32 |
| 11 | Youngstown, OH | $44,024 | $21.17 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,599 | $20.96 |
A corrections counselor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $48,875 | $4,073 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of corrections counselors are school counselor, mental health counselor, and guidance counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor Internship | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | 132,694 |
| Alcohol And Drug Counselor | $45,758 | $3,813 | $22.00 | 77,461 |
| Mental Health Counselor | $49,471 | $4,123 | $23.78 | 110,752 |
| Guidance Counselor | $48,154 | $4,013 | $23.15 | 75,740 |
| Family Counselor | $41,510 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 93,253 |
| Community Health Counselor | $43,304 | $3,609 | $20.82 | 131,804 |
Top companies hiring corrections counselors now:
Corrections counselor salaries at Maxim Healthcare Group and Iowa Department of Transportation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average corrections counselor salary at companies like Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania and State of West Virginia are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $56,087 | $26.96 |
| 2 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $52,701 | $25.34 |
| 3 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $51,960 | $24.98 |
| 4 | State of West Virginia | $51,705 | $24.86 |
| 5 | CFG Health Systems | $51,378 | $24.70 |
| 6 | State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission | $50,417 | $24.24 |
| 7 | Management & Training | $50,393 | $24.23 |
| 8 | Iowa State Association of Counties | $49,793 | $23.94 |
| 9 | Community Medical Services | $49,470 | $23.78 |
| 10 | Pico de Gallo | $49,149 | $23.63 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State Treasurer | $49,148 | $23.63 |
| 12 | The State of Oregon | $48,609 | $23.37 |
| 13 | Indiana State Police | $47,569 | $22.87 |
| 14 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| 15 | Spectrum Health | $47,113 | $22.65 |
| 16 | Weld County Government | $44,332 | $21.31 |
| 17 | Tarrant County | $44,003 | $21.16 |
| 18 | The Salvation Army | $43,892 | $21.10 |
The average corrections counselor salary has risen by $3,355 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average corrections counselor earned $45,520 annually, but today, they earn $48,875 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for corrections counselors over the last decade.
Compare corrections counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare corrections counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,900 | $23.50 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $48,000 | $23.06 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $47,400 | $22.77 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $46,600 | $22.40 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $45,900 | $22.06 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pico de Gallo | Correctional Counselor | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $42,784 |
| Corecivic | Treatment Counselor, Community Corrections | San Diego, CA | 06/27/2025 | $65,970 |
| State of Kansas | Corrections Counselor I | Shawnee, KS | 06/27/2025 | $59,083 |
| Corecivic | Correctional Counselor | Shelby, MT | 06/24/2025 | $55,535 |
| Corecivic | Correctional Counselor-Saguaro | Eloy, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $50,005 |
| Department of Corrections | Intake Counselor, Correctional Counselor Option, for Odoc, Boppps and OCE Employees Only | Wilsonville, OR | 06/19/2025 | $80,724 |
| State of West Virginia | Correctional Counselor 1-DHS-DCR-Harrison County Youth Reporting Center-Harrison CO. | Charleston, WV | 06/18/2025 | $32,862 |
| DHRM | Casework Counselor: Haynesville Correctional Center #00645 | Enon, VA | 06/18/2025 | $47,721 |
| Division of Financial Institutions | Correctional Counselor 1-DHS-DCR-Harrison County Youth Reporting Center-Harrison CO. | Charleston, WV | 06/18/2025 | $32,862 |
| State of Virginia | Casework Counselor: Haynesville Correctional Center #00645 | Richmond, VA | 06/17/2025 | $47,721 |
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