Correctional Officer Pay

History of Officer Pay

Historically, the position of prison guard has had low social status. Subject to poor working conditions [Page 186]and low pay, it was a field that few aspired to and often entered only as a last resort. Usually, guards lived on the prison grounds and were thus continually interacting with prisoners. Such a relationship often compromised their capacity to be viewed as authority figures and limited their ability to enforce punitive and rehabilitative models.

Even so, attempts were made almost from the beginning to increase the social status of the prison guard. During the development of the penitentiary in New York, for example, guards were required to wear uniforms and to behave in a professional manner. Additional attempts to professionalize the role of the officer were made in the 19th and 20th centuries, as many states changed the job title from “prison guard” to “correctional officer.”

Current Levels of Pay

In addition to changing the social status of the correctional officer, attempts were made throughout the 20th century to increase the compensation provided to officers for their work. Compensation for correctional officers is based on a number of factors, including type of facility, location, rate of starting salary, number of years of service, turnover rates, frequency of promotion opportunities, training opportunities, job performance, and educational level. In 2002, the median yearly income level for correctional officers was $32,670, with the lowest 10% earning less than $22,010 and the highest 10% earning more than $52,370 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003b). A survey of 25 states in the central United States illustrates how salaries can vary dramatically from state to state. In 2001, the average salary for officers in North Dakota ranged from $21,000 for entry-level officers to $38,352 for experienced officers. In contrast, Wyoming correctional officers begin their careers at a higher salary of $23,844, but the maximum salary level after five years' experience is lower compared to North Dakota's, at $33,876 yearly (Correctional Officers Salaries, 2002).

In comparison to the salaries in the central United States, correctional officers in California receive significantly higher salaries. In 2004, a job announcement by the California Department of Corrections listed a yearly salary range of $34,284 to $58,620. In 2003, 391 officers earned more than $100,000 due to overtime pay (Gladstone, 2004). Salaries have increased dramatically for California officers since the 1980s, when the median yearly salary for a correctional officer was $14,400. The California Correctional Peace Officers Union has been largely responsible for the increases in the pay structure for California prison guards. Its lobbying efforts have also increased the benefits available to guards, which include medical coverage and a retirement plan that allows employees to retire at age 55 after 30 years of service and receive a stipend equal to 75% of their yearly pay. While the California Correctional Peace Officers Union has made a number of positive contributions for correctional officers in its jurisdiction, it has also been criticized for its lobbying efforts and contributions to political campaigns. These efforts have prioritized budget decisions toward officer pay over other services to prisoners within the correctional system (Pens, 1998).

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