Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in Kentucky
$44,870avg. a year
$21.57 an hour · 6,770 employed
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Kentucky earn an average of $44,870 a year. That is $18,760 (29%) less than the U.S. average of $63,630. The best-paying metro area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN at $55,760.
$42,310Median pay
$21.57Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#46Of 49 states
Top-paying Kentucky metro areas
Average pay for correctional officers and jailers by metro area. Swipe to see all 8.
11,610 jobs
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
$55,760
$26.81 an hour
2700 jobs
Lexington-Fayette, KY
$53,020
$25.49 an hour
3400 jobs
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
$52,470
$25.22 an hour
4880 jobs
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
$46,440
$22.33 an hour
5200 jobs
Clarksville, TN-KY
$42,310
$20.34 an hour
690 jobs
Owensboro, KY
$41,770
$20.08 an hour
7240 jobs
Bowling Green, KY
$40,240
$19.35 an hour
850 jobs
Paducah, KY-IL
$36,740
$17.66 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in Kentucky, charted
Pay over time
Kentucky, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Kentucky correctional officers and jailers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Kentucky highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $52k$52k–$57k$57k–$68k$68k+Kentucky
Kentucky vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| Kentucky | $44,870 | $21.57 |
| Illinois | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| Ohio | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| West Virginia | $56,670 | $27.24 |
| Virginia | $54,450 | $26.18 |
| Tennessee | $51,420 | $24.72 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,840
- Security Guards$38,540
- Firefighters$42,100
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,610
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$86,900
- Bailiffs$34,570
Average pay, Kentucky, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in Kentucky?
The average is $44,870 a year, and the median is $42,310. That is $18,760 (29%) less than the U.S. average of $63,630.
What is the hourly wage in Kentucky?
$21.57 an hour on average; the median is $20.34.
Where in Kentucky do they earn the most?
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($55,760), followed by Lexington-Fayette, KY ($53,020). The lowest average among 8 metro areas with data is Paducah, KY-IL ($36,740).
How does Kentucky rank?
Kentucky ranks #46 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 33-3012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national correctional officers and jailers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.