Correctional Officers and Jailers pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,100 or more. The middle half of correctional officers and jailers in Reading earn between $69,400 and $69,400.
- $69K10th
- $69K25th
- $69KMedian
- $69K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,540 | $5,795 | $33.43 |
| Median | $69,400 | $5,783 | $33.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,400 | $5,783 | $33.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,400 | $5,783 | $33.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Correctional officers and jailers in Reading earn 8% more than the Pennsylvania average ($64,650) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $58,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $69,540 | $69,400 | $69,400 | $79,100 | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,650 | $63,460 | $46,840 | $85,630 | 15,560 |
| United States | $63,630 | $58,940 | $42,760 | $93,220 | 380,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary after taxes in Reading
On the average salary of $69,540, a single filer in Reading takes home about $55,617 a year, or $4,635 a month and $2,139 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for correctional officers and jailers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $69,540 buys what about $71,646 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 1st of 10 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Reading$69,540
- Philadelphia$69,420
- State College$67,940
- Harrisburg$65,960
- Pittsburgh$64,670
- Scranton$63,440
- Lancaster$63,300
- Johnstown$62,470
- Erie$57,960
- Allentown$56,380
All Correctional Officers and Jailers salaries in Pennsylvania
Highest-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,290).
- San Jose, CA$126,290
- San Luis Obispo, CA$102,510
- Salinas, CA$99,160
- San Francisco, CA$97,620
- Bakersfield, CA$96,930
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Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Reading: questions
How much do correctional officers and jailers make an hour in Reading?
$33.43 an hour on average, and $33.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level correctional officers and jailers salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the correctional officers and jailers take-home pay in Reading?
About $55,617 a year ($4,635 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,540. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do correctional officers and jailers earn more in Reading than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3012; area Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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