Mississippi jailers and officers lowest paid in US: report

Date:2025-08-12 03:42:01 Category:US Views:3 Comment:0

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Lower-than-average wages plague workers in a variety of industries statewide, but recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicated that among correctional officers, this is exceptionally true.

Data cited by USA Wage from the BLS compiled the average annual and starting wages among jailers and correctional officers nationwide. It found that Mississippi had the lowest average and entry-level pay among correctional officers and jailers in the U.S. at $30,920 and $22,710, respectively. This is significantly less than the state median wage of $37,500.

Current MDOC promotional materials advertised positions starting at $40,392. Those with a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience can start out making $52,388. However, MDOC does not manage jails or all facilities where inmates are housed. As a result, people outside of MDOC largely contribute to Mississippi’s overall wages for officers and jailers.

Three MDOC officers arrested for smuggling contraband

Additionally, pay and benefits for new or prospective employees do not always reflect what current workers make. According to Indeed.com, average pay among MDOC employees ranged from $12.50 to $19.40 an hour. That adds up to $24,000 and $37,248 annually. Salary information comes from data collected from employees, users, and past and present job s on Indeed over the last three years.

Organizations like the Institute for Youth in Policy and Penal Reform International cite poor oversight and low compensation rates among employees as key factors in why some officers are susceptible to bribes and corruption. Earlier this week, MDOC announced that three correctional officers attempted to smuggle contraband to prisoners. Last year, officials arrested four corrections officers for allegedly helping inmates escape at an MDOC facility in Yazoo County.

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