Prison Officer Average Salary in Pennsylvania 2024
How much money does a person working as Prison Officer make in Pennsylvania?
LOW
24,400
USD AVERAGE
47,000
USD HIGH
71,900
USD
A person working as Prison Officer in Pennsylvania typically earns around 47,000 USD. Salaries range from 24,400 USD (lowest) to 71,900 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Prison Officer salaries in Pennsylvania vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Prison Officer Pay Scale and Salaries in Pennsylvania
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
42,600 USD or more
37,900 to 42,600 USD
27,700 USD or less
27,700 to 37,900 USD
 24,400 USD |
42,700 USD |
71,900 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Prison Officer in Pennsylvania range from 24,400 USD (starting salary) to 71,900 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 42,700 USD, half of the professionals who work as Prison Officer in Pennsylvania earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Prison Officer in Pennsylvania earn less than 35,400 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 48,500 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Prison Officer in Pennsylvania compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 27,700 USD to 37,900 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 27,700 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 37,900 USD to 42,600 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 42,600 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Prison Officer / Pennsylvania
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 27,800 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 37,200 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +30% | 48,400 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +21% | 58,600 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 64,100 USD |
| 20+ Years | +5% | 67,400 USD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Prison Officer and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 27,800 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 37,200 USD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 48,400 USD, 30% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 58,600 USD, 21% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 64,100 USD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 67,400 USD, 5% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Prison Officer / Pennsylvania
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Prison Officer.
| High School | 34,900 USD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +68% | 58,600 USD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Prison Officer in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 34,900 USD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 58,600 USD, 68% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Prison Officer / Pennsylvania
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Prison Officer in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 6%.
| Male | 45,500 USD | |
| Female | -5% | 43,100 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Prison Officer / Pennsylvania
How much are annual salary increments in Pennsylvania for individuals working as Prison Officer? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Prison Officer in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Prison Officer / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
Share This Chart Tweet Get Chart Linkhttp://www.salaryexplorer.com/charts/united-states/law-enforcement-security-fire/prison-officer/annual-salary-bonus-rate-united-states-prison-officer.jpg
100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Prison Officer / Pennsylvania
23 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Prison Officer in Pennsylvania is 23 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Prison Officer in Pennsylvania is 12 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Law Enforcement / Security / Fire |  -100% | |
| Accreditation Coordinator | 93,300 USD |  +99% |
| Accreditation Manager | 132,000 USD | +180% |
| Advocate | 77,100 USD | +64% |
| Armed Security Officer | 78,600 USD | +67% |
| Behavioral Analyst | 110,000 USD | +130% |
| Body-Worn Camera Technician | 66,700 USD | +42% |
| Civilian Review Board Investigator | 90,400 USD | +92% |
| Company Guard | 37,200 USD | -21% |
| Control Room Operator | 32,100 USD | -32% |
| Correctional Officer | 60,500 USD | +29% |
| Crime Scene Reconstructionist | 98,500 USD | +110% |
| Criminal Investigator | 116,000 USD | +150% |
| Crisis Negotiator | 97,400 USD | +110% |
| Cyberbullying Investigator | 91,900 USD | +96% |
| Digital Forensic Analyst | 99,700 USD | +110% |
| E-crime Investigator | 109,000 USD | +130% |
| Facility Monitor | 66,500 USD | +42% |
| Fire Chief | 118,000 USD | +150% |
| Fire Dispatcher | 58,400 USD | +24% |
| Fire Education Specialist | 101,000 USD | +110% |
| Fire Extinguisher Technician | 36,700 USD | -22% |
| Fire Fighter | 62,300 USD | +33% |
| Fire Inspector | 113,000 USD | +140% |
| Fire Investigator | 113,000 USD | +140% |
| Fire Prevention Engineer | 98,300 USD | +110% |
| Fire Prevention Officer | 84,000 USD | +79% |
| Fire Protection Specialist | 101,000 USD | +110% |
| Forensic Artist | 70,200 USD | +49% |
| Forensic Entomologist | 75,900 USD | +62% |
| Forensic Investigator | 100,000 USD | +110% |
| Forensic Science Technician | 104,000 USD | +120% |
| Fraud and Forensic Specialist | 114,000 USD | +140% |
| Fraud Examiner | 118,000 USD | +150% |
| Grants Specialist | 134,000 USD | +190% |
| Hate Crime Investigator | 80,900 USD | +72% |
| Human Trafficking Investigator | 93,500 USD | +99% |
| Identity Theft Investigator | 91,400 USD | +95% |
| Intellectual Property Associate | 104,000 USD | +120% |
| Intelligence Research Specialist | 174,000 USD | +270% |
| Investigator | 118,000 USD | +150% |
| Jail Officer | 50,100 USD | +7% |
| Juvenile Probation Officer | 79,900 USD | +70% |
| Juvenile Supervision Officer | 80,300 USD | +71% |
| Licensing and Permitting Specialist | 96,000 USD | +100% |
| Lock-Smith | 33,400 USD | -29% |
| Open Source Intelligence Analyst | 111,000 USD | +140% |
| Parole Officer | 54,900 USD | +17% |
| Police Captain | 130,000 USD | +180% |
| Police Communications Officer | 77,100 USD | +64% |
| Police Officer | 62,000 USD | +32% |
| Police Patrol Officer | 56,100 USD | +19% |
| Police Social Worker | 63,500 USD | +35% |
| Predictive Analyst | 88,600 USD | +89% |
| Prison Officer | 47,000 USD | +0% |
| Prisoner Custody Officer | 42,000 USD | -11% |
| Private Detective / Investigator | 112,000 USD | +140% |
| Problem-Oriented Policing Specialist | 97,100 USD | +110% |
| School Resource Officer | 53,300 USD | +13% |
| Security Adviser | 110,000 USD | +130% |
| Security Guard | 31,600 USD | -33% |
| Security Management Specialist | 154,000 USD | +230% |
| Security Manager | 142,000 USD | +200% |
| Security Officer | 37,600 USD | -20% |
| Security Supervisor | 88,800 USD | +89% |
| Security Systems Installer | 84,000 USD | +79% |
| Security Technician | 35,500 USD | -24% |
| Social Media Investigator | 91,800 USD | +95% |
| Surveillance Operator | 45,000 USD | -4% |
| Tactical Analyst | 99,700 USD | +110% |
| Technological Crime Investigator | 111,000 USD | +140% |
| Traffic Controller | 64,600 USD | +37% |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Prison Officer in Pennsylvania?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 42,700 USD and 48,500 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Prison Officer in Pennsylvania ranges from 24,400 USD to 35,400 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
