Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $50,450 a year ($24.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,930 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $58,940. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $50,550. There are 0.73 correctional officers and jailers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $52,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for correctional officers and jailers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| 25th percentile | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Median | $50,450 | $24.26 |
| 75th percentile | $56,310 | $27.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,930 | $35.54 |
| Average (mean) | $52,730 | $25.35 |
Half of correctional officers and jailers 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 | $4,204.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,102.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,940.38 |
| Weekly | $970.19 |
| Hourly | $24.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | $56,610 | 140 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $54,600 | 1,690 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $54,070 | 1,140 |
| Asheville, NC | $50,850 | 280 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $50,550 | 540 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,900 | 1,520 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,940 | 750 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,810 | 300 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,740 | 220 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,330 | 420 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $43,020 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for correctional officers and jailers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $96,370 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 |
| Oregon | $83,690 |
| Washington | $79,460 |
| Illinois | $79,190 |
| New York | $76,820 |
| Nevada | $76,490 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 |
| Alaska | $71,360 |
See Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| Security Guard | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Firefighter | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $59,520 | $28.61 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,280 | $13.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| School Bus Monitor | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $75,470 | $36.28 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $53,610 | $25.77 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3012. 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 correctional officers and jailers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for correctional officers and jailers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $50,450 a year, or $24.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid correctional officers and jailers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of correctional officers and jailers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $73,930 a year. The top 25% earn $56,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for correctional officers and jailers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,660 a year, and a quarter of correctional officers and jailers earn $46,880 or less.
How many correctional officers and jailers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 250 correctional officers and jailers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.