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Correctional officer salary in New Jersey

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$94,770median pay per year in New Jersey, or $45.56 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $51,410lowest 10% earn less
  2. $72,42025th percentile
  3. $94,770median
  4. $106,57075th percentile
  5. $106,570top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $58,940[3]

The median pay for correctional officers in New Jersey was $94,770 a year[1]. That ranked 2nd among states with a published median[5].

Jobs in NJ
7,570[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+60.8%[6]

How much do correctional officers make in New Jersey?

Half of correctional officers in New Jersey earned more than $94,770 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $45.56 an hour[1]. The average was lower, at $87,780 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $58,940[3], so New Jersey was $35,830 higher[6]. Within the state, the median was $36,200 above the median for all jobs, which was $58,570[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $51,410[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $106,570[2]. For comparison, the 90th percentile across the US was $93,220[10].

Among metro areas in or partly in New Jersey, Vineland, NJ had the highest median, $106,570[11]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had a median of $93,220[12]. The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area had a median of $67,200[12].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. It leaves out the self-employed and unpaid family workers. Bonuses outside regular production pay and the cost of benefits like health insurance are not part of the wages[13].

New Jersey vs US pay

Pay for correctional officers in New Jersey next to the national figures[1][3].

NJUS
Median per year$94,770[1]$58,940[3]
Median per hour$45.56[1]$28.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$51,410[2]$42,760[10]
Top 10% earn more than$106,570[2]$93,220[10]
Jobs7,570[4]380,500[3]

Pay by metro area in New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey with the most jobs for correctional officers, and the median pay in each[12]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[12]$93,22014,730
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$67,2005,570
Vineland, NJ$106,5701,090
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$51,990520
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$63,820220

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for correctional officers in the states that border New Jersey, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[14]$76,82027,770
Delaware$65,8801,730
Pennsylvania$63,46015,560

Median pay for correctional officers in every state

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].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a correctional officer make in New Jersey?
The median was $94,770 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $87,780 a year[7].
How much does a correctional officer make an hour in New Jersey?
The median was $45.56 an hour[1]. The average was $42.20 an hour[7].
Which city in New Jersey pays correctional officers the most?
Of the metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median, Vineland, NJ was highest at $106,570 a year[11].
Is New Jersey a good state for correctional officers?
For pay, New Jersey had the 2nd highest median for this job among states with a published median[5]. It was $35,830 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a correctional officer in New Jersey?
This is a US figure, not a New Jersey one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey was $94,770 per year and $45.56 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey: 10th percentile $51,410, 25th percentile $72,420, 75th percentile $106,570, 90th percentile $106,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. 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
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 7,570 people worked as Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New Jersey had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers out of the 49 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey ($94,770) was $35,830 (60.8%) higher than the US median ($58,940). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey was $87,780 per year and $42.20 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Jersey was $36,200 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New Jersey was $58,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median for Correctional Officers and Jailers, Vineland, NJ had the highest median annual wage, $106,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. 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
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in states that border New Jersey (highest first): New York $76,820; Delaware $65,880; Pennsylvania $63,460. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. 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
  16. 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

State figures cover only New Jersey. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.