SalaryExplorer

SOC 33-3012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Correctional Officers and JailersSouth Arkansas

South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area · 4 metro areas compared

$40,330 /year
$19.39per hour
1,180jobs in area
31.6%vs US median

The median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Arkansas, AR is $40,330 per year, substantially below the national median of $58,940 — a gap of 31.6%.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $58,94010TH$33,25025TH$37,500MEDIAN$40,33090TH$47,350

Salary overview

The median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Arkansas, AR is $40,330 per year, substantially below the national median of $58,940 — a gap of 31.6%. Pay ranges from under $33,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,500 to $41,960.

The area has 1,180 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 10.0 of every thousand jobs. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,710. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 224th of 349 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$33,250−43.6%
25th$37,500−36.4%
Median (50th)$40,330−31.6%
75th$41,960−28.8%
90th$47,350−19.7%
Mean$40,110−31.9%

Other metro areas in Arkansas

Median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Fayetteville$46,710420
2Jonesboro$43,370140
3Little Rock$41,960610
4Fort Smith$33,790130

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in South Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $40,330 goes as far as $46,410 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.3% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$40,330as reported by BLS

Local price level

86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$46,410US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $40,330 a year, 31.6% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $33,250 to $47,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 1,180 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $46,710.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in South Arkansas, AR?

The median annual wage is $40,330, or $19.39 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 South Arkansas, AR is 31.6% lower. 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 South Arkansas, AR earns more than $47,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $33,250 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 Fayetteville, at $46,710 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 1,180 jobs in this occupation in South Arkansas, AR. 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 Salary in South Arkansas, AR (2025): $40,330 Median | Salary Explorer