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Correctional Officer Salary in St. George, UT — 2026

Correctional Officer salary data for St. George, UT — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The median Correctional Officer salary in St. George, UT is $48,000 per year ($4,000/month, $23/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 100, which is 0% below the national average.

Entry Level
$35K
$17/hr
Median
$48K
$23/hr
Senior
$65K
$31/hr
Top Earner
$78K
$38/hr

Correctional Officer Take-Home Pay in St. George

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$48,000
Federal Tax-$3,580
State Tax (4.5%)-$2,160
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$3,672
Annual Take-Home$38,588
Monthly Take-Home$3,216

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,300/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio32.5%
Median Home Price$420,000
Cost of Living Index100
City Median Salary$52,000
Correctional Officer vs City Median$-4,000

Correctional Officer Requirements

Education
High School/Associate's
Experience
0-1 years
Job Growth
4.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

SecurityCrisis ManagementReport WritingPhysical FitnessDe-escalation

St. George Job Market Overview

St. George, Utah has a population of 95,342 and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. The top industries are Healthcare, Tourism, Construction. The local job growth rate is 3.5%, and the average commute time is 18 minutes.

Salary Percentile Breakdown — Correctional Officer in St. George

Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Correctional Officer in St. George, UT, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$35,000$17/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$41,500$20/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$48,000$23/hrMid-career, 0-1 years
75th$65,000$31/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$78,000$38/hrLead/Principal, 10+ yrs

Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Correctional Officer compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in St. George's Healthcare sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Correctional Officer salaries in St. George have grown approximately 3.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:

5 Years Ago
$46,602
Adjusted for St. George COL
Today (2026)
$48,000
+3.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$49,440
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average Correctional Officer can expect a 16.7% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in St. George. Negotiation, certifications (State Certification), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

St. George vs National Average

The national median Correctional Officer salary is $48,000. In St. George, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $48,000 is 0.0% below the national figure. This reflects St. George's cost of living index of 100 (lower than the national average of 100).

For Correctional Officers, this means: rent typically consumes 40.4% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in St. George costs about 10.9× annual take-home. Homeownership in St. George on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Healthcare in St. George

St. George's economy is anchored by Healthcare, Tourism, Construction, with 95,342 residents and 2.8% unemployment as of 2026. Correctional Officers working in the Healthcare sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 3.5%, and Correctional Officer occupations specifically are projected to grow 4.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).

Methodology & Data Sources

How we calculate Correctional Officer salaries in St. George, UT:

  1. Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
  2. Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the St. George index of 100 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
  3. Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
  4. Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), UT state income tax of 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
  5. Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.

Authoritative data sources:

Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Correctional Officer salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Healthcare vs others in St. George), specific skill set (Security, Crisis Management, Report Writing), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Correctional Officer salary in St. George, UT?
The median Correctional Officer salary in St. George, UT is $48,000 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 100. Entry-level Correctional Officers earn around $35,000, while senior-level professionals can earn $65,000 or more.
How much does a Correctional Officer take home in St. George after taxes?
A Correctional Officer earning the median salary of $48,000 in St. George, UT takes home approximately $38,588 per year ($3,216/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 19.6%.
Is St. George a good city for Correctional Officers?
St. George, UT has a cost of living index of 100 (below national average). Correctional Officers here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.8% and top industries include Healthcare, Tourism, Construction.
What skills are needed for a Correctional Officer in St. George?
Key skills for Correctional Officers include Security, Crisis Management, Report Writing, Physical Fitness, De-escalation. Typical education requirement is High School/Associate's. Valuable certifications include State Certification.
How does Correctional Officer salary in St. George compare to the national average?
The national median Correctional Officer salary is $48,000. In St. George, the adjusted salary is $48,000, which is 0.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Correctional Officer salary in St. George, UT?

The median Correctional Officer salary in St. George, UT is $48,000 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 100. Entry-level Correctional Officers earn around $35,000, while senior-level professionals can earn $65,000 or more.

How much does a Correctional Officer take home in St. George after taxes?

A Correctional Officer earning the median salary of $48,000 in St. George, UT takes home approximately $38,588 per year ($3,216/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 19.6%.

Is St. George a good city for Correctional Officers?

St. George, UT has a cost of living index of 100 (below national average). Correctional Officers here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.8% and top industries include Healthcare, Tourism, Construction.

What skills are needed for a Correctional Officer in St. George?

Key skills for Correctional Officers include Security, Crisis Management, Report Writing, Physical Fitness, De-escalation. Typical education requirement is High School/Associate's. Valuable certifications include State Certification.

How does Correctional Officer salary in St. George compare to the national average?

The national median Correctional Officer salary is $48,000. In St. George, the adjusted salary is $48,000, which is 0.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.