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Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary in KY

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Correctional Officers and Jailers in KY have a median annual salary of $42,310, with 6,770 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $29,910 at the 10th percentile to $61,820 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$42,310

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$20.34

Employment

6,770

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$29,910
10th
$36,480
25th
$42,310
Median
$50,310
75th
$61,820
90th

Local compared with national

KY

$42,310

Median annual · 2025

United States

$58,940

Median annual · 2025

The KY median is 28.2% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $16,630).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
  2. 2.MonitoringImportance 4.0
  3. 3.Social PerceptivenessImportance 4.0
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.8
  6. 6.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.6
  7. 7.CoordinationImportance 3.5
  8. 8.PersuasionImportance 3.4
  9. 9.Active LearningImportance 3.3
  10. 10.NegotiationImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.3
  12. 12.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • 3M Electronic Monitoring
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Corrections housing software
  • Facebook
  • Guardian RFID
  • Jail management software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Web browser software

Common tasks

  • Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
  • Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
  • Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
  • Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
  • Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
  • Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
  • Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
  • Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
  • Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
  • Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other locations

Other occupations in KY