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Correctional officer salary in New York

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

$76,820median pay per year in New York, or $36.93 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $58,940lowest 10% earn less
  2. $68,45025th percentile
  3. $76,820median
  4. $91,25075th percentile
  5. $93,220top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $58,940[3]

The median pay for a correctional officer in New York was $76,820 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $17,880 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in NY
27,770[4]
Rank by median pay
7 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+30.3%[6]

How much do correctional officers make in New York?

The median for correctional officers in New York was $76,820 a year[1]. That works out to $36.93 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher, at $77,240 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $58,940[3]. New York's median was $17,880 (30.3%) higher[6]. New York had the 7th highest median out of the 49 states with a published median[5].

The median for all jobs in New York was $59,670[8]. Correctional officers were $17,150 above that[9]. At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,940[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $93,220[2].

Pay differs by area. Of the 9 metro areas with a published median, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was highest at $93,220[10]. Rochester was at $76,820 and Syracuse at $72,060[11]. These figures come from OEWS, which counts wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

New York vs US pay

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

NYUS
Median per year$76,820[1]$58,940[3]
Median per hour$36.93[1]$28.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$58,940[2]$42,760[13]
Top 10% earn more than$93,220[2]$93,220[13]
Jobs27,770[4]380,500[3]

Pay by metro area in New York

Metro areas in New York 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 areaMedian per yearJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[11]$93,22014,730
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$75,2401,990
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$76,1701,590
Rochester, NY$76,8201,390
Utica-Rome, NY$72,8901,300
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY$59,970600
Elmira, NY$76,820550
Syracuse, NY$72,060530

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[14]$94,7707,570
Massachusetts$86,3106,360
Connecticut$64,7503,780
Pennsylvania$63,46015,560
Vermont$53,810450

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 York?
The median was $76,820 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $77,240 a year[7].
How much does a correctional officer make an hour in New York?
The median was $36.93 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $28.34 an hour and the 90th was $44.82[17].
Which city in New York pays correctional officers the most?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median, $93,220 a year[10]. It had about 14,730 jobs[11].
Is New York a good state for correctional officers?
New York had the 7th highest median wage for this job out of 49 states[5]. Its median was 30.3% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a correctional officer in New York?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience needed. Training is moderate-term on the job[16]. This is a US figure, not specific to New York.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New York was $76,820 per year and $36.93 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 York: 10th percentile $58,940, 25th percentile $68,450, 75th percentile $91,250, 90th percentile $93,220. 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 27,770 people worked as Correctional Officers and Jailers in New York (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New York had the 7th 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 York ($76,820) was $17,880 (30.3%) 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 York was $77,240 per year and $37.13 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New York was $59,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New York was $17,150 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($59,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 9 metro areas in or partly in New York with a published median for Correctional Officers and Jailers, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage, $93,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in states that border New York (highest first): New Jersey $94,770; Massachusetts $86,310; Connecticut $64,750; Pennsylvania $63,460; Vermont $53,810. 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New York: 10th percentile $28.34, 25th percentile $32.91, 75th percentile $43.87, 90th percentile $44.82. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only New York. 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.