Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Wilmington, NC
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $48,810 a year ($23.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,780 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $58,940. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $50,550. There are 1.5 correctional officers and jailers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.63). The average (mean) salary is $47,980, close to the median.
Pay range for correctional officers and jailers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| 25th percentile | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Median | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| 75th percentile | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,780 | $26.82 |
| Average (mean) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
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 | $4,067.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,033.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,877.31 |
| Weekly | $938.65 |
| Hourly | $23.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,810 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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $50,450 | 250 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,900 | 1,520 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,940 | 750 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Security Guard | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Firefighter | $35,580 | $17.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,070 | $13.01 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $94,670 | $45.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $68,940 | $33.15 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $68,440 | $32.90 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $45,010 | $21.64 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for correctional officers and jailers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $48,810 a year, or $23.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid correctional officers and jailers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of correctional officers and jailers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $55,780 a year. The top 25% earn $50,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for correctional officers and jailers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,610 a year, and a quarter of correctional officers and jailers earn $46,060 or less.
How many correctional officers and jailers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 300 correctional officers and jailers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.