Bailiff salary in the U.S.
Bailiffs in the U.S. earn a median of $56,600 a year ($27.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,770 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $61,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bailiffs in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,140 | $15.45 |
| 25th percentile | $43,720 | $21.02 |
| Median | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,770 | $46.53 |
| Average (mean) | $61,660 | $29.65 |
Half of bailiffs earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,716.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,358.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,176.92 |
| Weekly | $1,088.46 |
| Hourly | $27.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bailiff salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $111,890 | 40 |
| Alaska | $90,600 | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $86,730 | 930 |
| Washington | $78,290 | 180 |
| New York | $77,540 | 3,830 |
| Nebraska | $76,090 | 50 |
| Nevada | $71,230 | 210 |
| Kansas | $69,390 | 450 |
| Colorado | $63,320 | 70 |
| Maine | $62,800 | 110 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | 670 |
| Virginia | $62,290 | 320 |
| Texas | $60,300 | 590 |
| Maryland | $59,470 | 410 |
| Florida | $59,000 | 940 |
| Utah | $57,290 | 40 |
| Oregon | $57,140 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $56,100 | 250 |
| Michigan | $53,810 | 780 |
| Iowa | $52,100 | 60 |
| Ohio | $51,060 | 1,640 |
| Idaho | $50,350 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $49,890 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $48,940 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,600 | 610 |
| Montana | $46,800 | 40 |
| Arizona | $46,390 | 270 |
| Illinois | $46,390 | 960 |
| Arkansas | $45,090 | 140 |
| Louisiana | $44,040 | 90 |
| Missouri | $44,040 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $43,690 | 50 |
| Indiana | $43,000 | 510 |
| Alabama | $42,300 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $42,000 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $41,010 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $39,080 | 250 |
| Wyoming | $38,360 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $38,200 | 180 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,770 | 830 |
| West Virginia | $36,250 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $35,990 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $34,280 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $30,760 | 760 |
| North Dakota | $27,560 | 170 |
Best-paying metro areas for bailiffs
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $164,040 | 220 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $164,040 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,570 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $83,360 | 2,730 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $82,590 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,570 | 550 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $79,040 | 80 |
| Syracuse, NY | $75,920 | 90 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $74,030 | 190 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $73,660 | 160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $72,500 | 30 |
| Rochester, NY | $72,450 | 120 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $71,670 | 30 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $71,460 | 80 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $71,230 | 160 |
Metro areas with the most bailiffs
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,730 | $83,360 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 800 | $37,770 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 550 | $79,570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 500 | $50,660 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 460 | $47,600 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 390 | $59,450 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 360 | $55,750 |
| Cleveland, OH | 350 | $53,540 |
| Columbus, OH | 310 | $50,500 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 260 | $61,240 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 250 | $57,530 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 220 | $164,040 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 220 | $34,940 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 210 | $52,590 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 190 | $74,030 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Fish and Game Wardens | $74,060 | $35.60 |
| Transit and Railroad Police | $90,230 | $43.38 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bailiff make in the U.S.?
The median salary for bailiffs in the U.S. is $56,600 a year, or $27.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bailiffs make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of bailiffs in the U.S. earn at least $96,770 a year. The top 25% earn $74,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for bailiffs in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,140 a year, and a quarter of bailiffs earn $43,720 or less.
How many bailiffs work in the U.S.?
About 17,310 bailiffs are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.