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Correctional officer salary in North Carolina

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

$50,550median pay per year in North Carolina, or $24.30 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,850lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,46025th percentile
  3. $50,550median
  4. $54,68075th percentile
  5. $63,150top 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 North Carolina was $50,550 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $8,390 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
11,900[4]
Rank by median pay
35 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
−14.2%[6]

How much do correctional officers make in North Carolina?

The median wage for correctional officers in North Carolina was $50,550 a year, or $24.30 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $51,390 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $58,940[3], so North Carolina sat 14.2% below it[6]. Against all jobs in the state, correctional officers did a little better. Their median was $2,580 higher than the $47,970 median for all occupations[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of correctional officers in North Carolina earned less than $38,850[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $63,150[2]. The middle half fell between $44,460 and $54,680[2].

Among metro areas, Greenville, NC had the highest median at $56,610[10]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC had a median of $54,600[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers, both full-time and part-time. It leaves out the self-employed and does not count bonuses or the cost of benefits to employers[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for correctional officers in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$50,550[1]$58,940[3]
Median per hour$24.30[1]$28.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$38,850[2]$42,760[13]
Top 10% earn more than$63,150[2]$93,220[13]
Jobs11,900[4]380,500[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina 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
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$54,6001,690
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$49,9001,520
Raleigh-Cary, NC$54,0701,140
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC$48,940750
Greensboro-High Point, NC$50,550540
Winston-Salem, NC$47,330420
Wilmington, NC$48,810300
Asheville, NC$50,850280

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Tennessee[14]$50,9406,990
Virginia$50,14011,270
South Carolina$47,8904,870
Georgia$47,52010,640

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 North Carolina?
The median was $50,550 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $51,390 a year[7].
How much does a correctional officer make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $24.30 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $18.68 an hour and the 90th was $30.36[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays correctional officers the most?
Greenville, NC had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $56,610 a year[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for correctional officers?
North Carolina had the 35th highest median wage for this job out of 49 states[5]. Its median was 14.2% below the US median[6].
What do you need to become a correctional officer in North Carolina?
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]. This is a US figure, not a North Carolina one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Carolina was $50,550 per year and $24.30 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $38,850, 25th percentile $44,460, 75th percentile $54,680, 90th percentile $63,150. 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 11,900 people worked as Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 35th 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 North Carolina ($50,550) was $8,390 (14.2%) lower 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 North Carolina was $51,390 per year and $24.71 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Carolina was $2,580 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Correctional Officers and Jailers, Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage, $56,610. 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 North Carolina (highest first): Tennessee $50,940; Virginia $50,140; South Carolina $47,890; Georgia $47,520. 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $18.68, 25th percentile $21.37, 75th percentile $26.29, 90th percentile $30.36. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.