Prevailing Wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers
Prevailing wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys, giving sponsored corrections officers, booking officers, and community services officers (CSOs) a location-specific floor. DOL establishes four experience levels, so the wage requirement for a deputy jailer in San Jose differs sharply from the same title in Hammond or Fort Smith.
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Level 1 covers entry-level corrections officers with limited experience, typically new to the role with no prior correctional or law enforcement background. Work is closely supervised, involving routine custodial tasks under established institutional procedures.
Level 2 applies to qualified correctional officers with some independent case handling, basic inmate management experience, and familiarity with facility protocols. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for this occupation land at Level 2.
Level 3 is for experienced officers who handle complex inmate supervision situations, mentor junior staff, or take on specialized assignments such as transport coordination or disciplinary procedures without close oversight.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior officers and lead detention deputies with broad discretionary authority, responsibility for unit operations, policy compliance oversight, or supervisory duties across a shift or facility section.
Prevailing Wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Correctional Officers and Jailers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Correctional Officers and Jailers
Watch how public agencies title these roles
County jails and state facilities often post the same corrections officer duties under titles like deputy jailer or detention deputy, which can trigger different SOC filings. Confirm your offer letter title maps directly to SOC 33-3012 before the LCA is certified.
Expect California metros to set a much higher floor
California dominates the top-paying metros for this occupation, with San Jose and San Luis Obispo wage floors far above the national median. If your offer is from a California facility, the prevailing wage floor for even an entry-level position is substantially higher than the national figure.
Check whether shift differentials count toward the wage floor
Correctional facilities commonly pay hazard pay, overnight differentials, and holiday premiums on top of base salary. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base wages only, so shift supplements cannot be counted toward meeting the floor on your LCA.
Use Migrate Mate to find corrections employers with sponsorship history
Few correctional employers sponsor visas, making the pool small. Migrate Mate shows which specific agencies and private facility operators have sponsored corrections officers before, so you can focus applications on employers with a documented H-1B or green card filing record.
Jobs for Correctional Officers and Jailers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-3012.00 alongside Correctional Officers and Jailers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Booking Officer Prevailing Wage
Booking Officer Prevailing Wage
Booking Officer positions fall under SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Community Services Officer (CSO) Prevailing Wage
Community Services Officer (CSO) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Community Services Officer (CSO) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Correctional Officer Prevailing Wage
Correctional Officer Prevailing Wage
Correctional Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Corrections Officer (CO) Prevailing Wage
Corrections Officer (CO) Prevailing Wage
Corrections Officer (CO) positions fall under SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Deputy Jailer Prevailing Wage
Deputy Jailer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Deputy Jailer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Detention Deputy Prevailing Wage
Detention Deputy Prevailing Wage
Detention Deputy is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Detention Officer Prevailing Wage
Detention Officer Prevailing Wage
Detention Officer positions fall under SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Jail Officer Prevailing Wage
Jail Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Jail Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Jailer Prevailing Wage
Jailer Prevailing Wage
Jailer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Jailor Prevailing Wage
Jailor Prevailing Wage
Jailor positions fall under SOC 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for correctional officers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages by occupation and metropolitan area. For Correctional Officers and Jailers under SOC 33-3012, the DOL's Office of Foreign Labor Certification assigns one of four wage levels based on the position's experience requirements, scope, and supervisory responsibilities as described in the job duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with some independent work; Level 3 is experienced with specialized or complex duties; Level 4 is fully competent with senior or lead responsibilities. Your employer determines the level when preparing the LCA, based on the actual duties in the position description. Review the job duties carefully to confirm the level matches your role's scope.
Why does the prevailing wage vary so much between cities for the same corrections officer role?
DOL calculates wages using regional BLS survey data, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage floor. A corrections officer position in San Jose, California sits in a high-cost, high-union-density labor market with strong public-sector pay, while the same title in Hammond, Louisiana reflects a very different local wage structure. The LCA must use the prevailing wage for the specific worksite city listed on the petition, not a national average.
What happens if a sponsored corrections officer job offer is below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will deny the H-1B petition, or DOL will reject the LCA certification, if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. For green card PERM cases, OFLC conducts audits that can catch wage deficiencies. The employer must correct the wage before refiling. An uncertified LCA cannot support a visa petition, so the job offer cannot proceed to sponsorship.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a corrections officer position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 33-3012 in the metropolitan area where the facility is located. Select the correct wage level matching the position's duties. You can also review the O*NET occupation profile for SOC 33-3012 to understand how duties map to levels. Migrate Mate lists employers with a documented visa sponsorship history for corrections roles, helping you identify which agencies are active sponsors before you apply.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Correctional Officers and Jailers right now.
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