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Correctional officer salary in Ohio

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,370median pay per year in Ohio, or $28.55 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,930lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,48025th percentile
  3. $59,370median
  4. $66,85075th percentile
  5. $68,060top 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 Ohio was $59,370 a year[1]. That was $430 above the US median[6].

Jobs in OH
12,610[4]
Rank by median pay
22 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+0.7%[6]

How much do correctional officers make in Ohio?

The median pay for correctional officers in Ohio was $59,370 a year, or $28.55 an hour[1]. That means half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little lower, at $58,660 a year[7].

Across the US, the median was $58,940[3], so Ohio sat $430 (0.7%) higher[6]. Among all jobs in the state, the median was $49,380[8], and correctional officers earned $9,990 more than that[9]. Ohio ranked 22nd out of the 49 states with a published median[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,930[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,060[2]. Of the 10 metro areas with a published median, Cleveland had the top figure at $59,370[10]. Columbus had a median of $58,040 and Cincinnati had $55,460[11].

OEWS counts part-time and full-time workers who are paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners, and it does not add bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Ohio vs US pay

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

OHUS
Median per year$59,370[1]$58,940[3]
Median per hour$28.55[1]$28.34[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$46,930[2]$42,760[13]
Top 10% earn more than$68,060[2]$93,220[13]
Jobs12,610[4]380,500[3]

Pay by metro area in Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio 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
Columbus, OH[11]$58,0402,540
Cleveland, OH$59,3702,390
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$55,4601,610
Toledo, OH$58,480470
Wheeling, WV-OH$59,240440
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$53,270410
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$50,390400
Lima, OH$59,240330

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Michigan[14]$64,0208,220
Pennsylvania$63,46015,560
West Virginia$52,8902,980
Indiana$48,3408,060
Kentucky$42,3106,770

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 Ohio?
The median was $59,370 a year[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,930 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,060[2].
How much does a correctional officer make an hour in Ohio?
The median was $28.55 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile hourly wage was $22.56[17], meaning 10% of workers earned less[2].
Which city in Ohio pays correctional officers the most?
Cleveland had the top median among the 10 metro areas with a published figure, at $59,370 a year[10]. Columbus had $58,040[11].
Is Ohio a good state for correctional officers?
Ohio ranked 22nd out of 49 states for median pay[5]. Its median was 0.7% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a correctional officer in Ohio?
This is a US figure, not an Ohio 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 Ohio was $59,370 per year and $28.55 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $46,930, 25th percentile $49,480, 75th percentile $66,850, 90th percentile $68,060. 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 12,610 people worked as Correctional Officers and Jailers in Ohio (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Ohio had the 22nd 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 Ohio ($59,370) was $430 (0.7%) 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 Ohio was $58,660 per year and $28.20 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Ohio was $49,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Ohio was $9,990 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median for Correctional Officers and Jailers, Cleveland, OH had the highest median annual wage, $59,370. 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 Ohio (highest first): Michigan $64,020; Pennsylvania $63,460; West Virginia $52,890; Indiana $48,340; Kentucky $42,310. 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $22.56, 25th percentile $23.79, 75th percentile $32.14, 90th percentile $32.72. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Ohio. 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.