Police Officer vs Correctional Officer Salary

Side-by-side salary comparison for Police Officer and Correctional Officer — national medians, pay ranges, and city-by-city data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Police Officers earn more nationally

$76,290 median vs $57,970 — a $18,320/yr difference (24% lower)

Police Officer →

Median Salary

$76,290

Salary Range

$47,640 – $115,280

10th–90th percentile

Correctional Officer →

Median Salary

$57,970

Salary Range

$41,750 – $93,000

10th–90th percentile

-24% difference

Police Officer vs Correctional Officer Salary by City

CityPolice OfficerCorrectional Officer
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$150,650$131,210
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$133,190$100,540
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$123,140$81,910
Salinas, CA$122,290$106,490
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$115,630$79,710
California$115,400$95,840
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$114,200$80,280
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$112,630$86,930
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$108,890$85,400
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$106,850$93,690
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$105,790$92,190
Bellingham, WA$104,350$83,860
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$102,640$78,400
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$101,690$104,090
Fresno, CA$101,640$92,010
Illinois$101,530$78,750
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$97,070$87,590
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area$96,880$104,090
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area$96,870$97,490
Bend, OR$94,740$82,380
Visalia, CA$91,990$79,370
Yakima, WA$91,690$78,020
Greeley, CO$90,790$90,220
Eugene-Springfield, OR$90,540$80,430
New Jersey$89,030$90,150

Green = higher-paying role in that city. Source: BLS OEWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Police Officer or Correctional Officer pay more?▾

Police Officers earn more nationally, with a median salary of $76,290 versus $57,970 for Correctional Officer. That's a difference of about $18,320 per year.

What's the salary range for a Police Officer vs a Correctional Officer?▾

Police Officer salaries range from $47,640 (10th percentile) to $115,280 (90th percentile). Correctional Officer salaries range from $41,750 to $93,000.

Which career has more growth potential — Police Officer or Correctional Officer?▾

Salary growth depends on experience, specialization, location, and industry sector. Both roles show strong upper-quartile earnings. Check city-by-city data above — in some metros one role significantly outpaces the other, which often reflects local industry demand and competition.

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