Bailiffs Career, Salary and Skills
Bailiffs have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $56,600 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 17,310. Wage data is published for 116 locations.
Occupation description
Maintain order in courts of law.
O*NET code
33-3011.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$56,600
Hourly median
$27.21
Employment
17,310
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$32,140
10th
$43,720
25th
$56,600
Median
$74,630
75th
$96,770
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Persuasion | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Arrest persons in court when arrest warrants have been issued.
- Screen persons entering courthouse using magnetometers, x-ray machines, and other devices to collect and retain unauthorized firearms and other contraband.
- Escort prisoners to and from courthouse and maintain custody of prisoners during court proceedings.
- Maintain order in courtroom during trial and guard jury from outside contact.
- Provide security by patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse and escorting judges and other court employees.
- Guard lodging of sequestered jury.
- Enforce courtroom rules of behavior and warn persons not to smoke or disturb court procedure.
- Report need for police or medical assistance to sheriff's office.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Case management system software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Court docket management software
- Email software
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
Bailiffs salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Bailiffs Salary in NYMedian $77,540 · Employment 3,830
- Bailiffs Salary in New York, NYMedian $83,360 · Employment 2,730
- Bailiffs Salary in OHMedian $51,060 · Employment 1,640
- Bailiffs Salary in ILMedian $46,390 · Employment 960
- Bailiffs Salary in FLMedian $59,000 · Employment 940
- Bailiffs Salary in MAMedian $86,730 · Employment 930
- Bailiffs Salary in PRMedian $37,770 · Employment 830
- Bailiffs Salary in San Juan, PRMedian $37,770 · Employment 800
- Bailiffs Salary in MIMedian $53,810 · Employment 780
- Bailiffs Salary in KYMedian $30,760 · Employment 760
- Bailiffs Salary in GAMedian $62,400 · Employment 670
- Bailiffs Salary in PAMedian $47,600 · Employment 610
Related careers
- CoronersNational median $80,730
- Arbitrators, Mediators, and ConciliatorsNational median $75,530
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous CaptionersNational median $72,420
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsNational median $55,570
- Private Detectives and InvestigatorsNational median $51,220
- LawyersNational median $159,670
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersNational median $117,860
- Court, Municipal, and License ClerksNational median $48,700
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.