All careers › Correctional Officers and Jailers › Michigan
Correctional officer salary in Michigan
- $47,360lowest 10% earn less
- $54,63025th percentile
- $64,020median
- $68,52075th percentile
- $77,990top 10% earn more
The median pay for correctional officers in Michigan was $64,020 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $5,080 higher than the US median[6].
How much do correctional officers make in Michigan?
The median wage for correctional officers in Michigan was $64,020 a year, or $30.78 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a bit lower at $63,120 a year[7]. Michigan had about 8,220 correctional officer jobs[4].
Across the US, the median for correctional officers was $58,940 a year[3]. So Michigan was $5,080 (8.6%) higher[6]. Compared with all jobs in Michigan, where the median was $49,270[8], correctional officers earned $14,750 more[9].
The lowest-paid 10% of correctional officers in Michigan earned less than $47,360[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,990[2]. Among metro areas, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood had the highest median at $68,520[10]. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn was close behind at $67,920[11].
These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed. They also leave out bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].
Michigan vs US pay
Pay for correctional officers in Michigan next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in Michigan
Metro areas in Michigan with the most jobs for correctional officers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI[11] | $67,920 | 2,200 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $68,520 | 1,210 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $68,520 | 370 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,390 | 200 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $58,940 | 100 |
| Traverse City, MI | $60,760 | 80 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for correctional officers in the states that border Michigan, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin[14] | $73,470 | 7,360 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | 12,610 |
| Indiana | $48,340 | 8,060 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for correctional officers are projected to decline 7.4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a correctional officer make in Michigan?
- The median pay for correctional officers in Michigan was $64,020 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $63,120 a year[7].
- How much does a correctional officer make an hour in Michigan?
- The median hourly wage was $30.78[1]. At the 10th percentile it was $22.77 an hour, and at the 90th percentile it was $37.50[17].
- Which city in Michigan pays correctional officers the most?
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood had the highest median among the 6 Michigan metro areas with a published figure, at $68,520 a year[10].
- Is Michigan a good state for correctional officers?
- Michigan had the 17th highest median annual wage for correctional officers out of 49 states with a published median[5]. Its median was $5,080 above the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a correctional officer in Michigan?
- Across the US, the typical entry path calls for a high school diploma or equivalent and no related work experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a Michigan one.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan was $64,020 per year and $30.78 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan: 10th percentile $47,360, 25th percentile $54,630, 75th percentile $68,520, 90th percentile $77,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in the US as a whole was $58,940 per year and $28.34 per hour, with about 380,500 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,220 people worked as Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: Michigan had the 17th highest median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers out of the 49 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan ($64,020) was $5,080 (8.6%) higher than the US median ($58,940). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan was $63,120 per year and $30.35 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Michigan was $49,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan was $14,750 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 6 metro areas in or partly in Michigan with a published median for Correctional Officers and Jailers, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI had the highest median annual wage, $68,520. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Correctional Officers and Jailers in the US: 10th percentile $42,760, 25th percentile $48,640, 75th percentile $75,850, 90th percentile $93,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in states that border Michigan (highest first): Wisconsin $73,470; Ohio $59,370; Indiana $48,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Correctional Officers and Jailers is projected to decline 7.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 28,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Correctional Officers and Jailers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan: 10th percentile $22.77, 25th percentile $26.27, 75th percentile $32.94, 90th percentile $37.50. BLS OEWS, May 2025