SalaryExplorer

SOC 33-3012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Correctional Officers and JailersNorthwest Illinois

Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared

$74,390 /year
$35.76per hour
790jobs in area
+26.2%vs US median

In Northwest Illinois, IL the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers reaches $74,390 a year.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $58,94010TH$49,07025TH$63,200MEDIAN$74,39075TH$91,19090TH$117,590

Salary overview

In Northwest Illinois, IL the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers reaches $74,390 a year. That is 26.2% more than the national median of $58,940. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $63,200 and $91,190. The lowest tenth earn under $49,070, while the highest tenth earn more than $117,590.

The area has 790 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $84,550. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 84th of 326 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$49,070−16.7%
25th$63,200+7.2%
Median (50th)$74,390+26.2%
75th$91,190+54.7%
90th$117,590+99.5%
Mean$79,460+34.8%

Other metro areas in Illinois

Median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Chicago$84,5504,940
2Peoria$64,540220
3Springfield$60,590140
4Rockford$56,650250
5Champaign$55,840100

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Northwest Illinois sit close to the national average, so $74,390 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.

Published median

$74,390as reported by BLS

Local price level

100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$74,390US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $74,390 a year, 26.2% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $49,070 to $117,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 790 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $84,550.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Northwest Illinois, IL?

The median annual wage is $74,390, or $35.76 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $58,940, so pay in Northwest Illinois, IL is 26.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Northwest Illinois, IL earns more than $117,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $49,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $84,550 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 790 jobs in this occupation in Northwest Illinois, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Correctional Officers and Jailers in Northwest Illinois, IL Earn $74,390 — 26.2% Above Average (2025) | Salary Explorer