Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Texas
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Texas earn a median of $52,670 a year ($25.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 44,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,550 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $58,940. Texas ranks 32nd of 49 states for correctional officers and jailers pay. There are 3.2 correctional officers and jailers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for correctional officers and jailers in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| 25th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Median | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| 75th percentile | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Average (mean) | $53,330 | $25.64 |
Half of correctional officers and jailers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,389.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,194.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,025.77 |
| Weekly | $1,012.88 |
| Hourly | $25.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $59,470 | 1,770 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,930 | 5,170 |
| Amarillo, TX | $54,020 | 600 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $54,020 | 1,730 |
| Lubbock, TX | $54,020 | 790 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $54,020 | 550 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $53,810 | 8,650 |
| Abilene, TX | $53,570 | 730 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,090 | 1,540 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $52,670 | 420 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $51,310 | 2,040 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $51,310 | 660 |
| Longview, TX | $49,530 | 340 |
| Waco, TX | $47,660 | 700 |
| El Paso, TX | $47,650 | 1,450 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $46,300 | 1,660 |
| Tyler, TX | $45,150 | 310 |
| San Angelo, TX | $44,740 | 180 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $42,940 | 390 |
| Laredo, TX | $42,570 | 480 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,670 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for correctional officers and jailers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $96,370 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 |
| Oregon | $83,690 |
| Washington | $79,460 |
| Illinois | $79,190 |
| New York | $76,820 |
| Nevada | $76,490 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 |
| Alaska | $71,360 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $90,510 | $43.51 |
| Bailiff | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $85,980 | $41.34 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $38,720 | $18.61 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $78,480 | $37.73 |
| Security Guard | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Firefighter | $60,180 | $28.94 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $111,000 | $53.36 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $68,640 | $33.00 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officers and jailers make in Texas?
The median salary for correctional officers and jailers in Texas is $52,670 a year, or $25.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid correctional officers and jailers make in Texas?
The top 10% of correctional officers and jailers in Texas earn at least $60,550 a year. The top 25% earn $57,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for correctional officers and jailers in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,870 a year, and a quarter of correctional officers and jailers earn $48,880 or less.
How many correctional officers and jailers work in Texas?
About 44,700 correctional officers and jailers are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.