Sources: West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel, West Virginia Division of Personnel — Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (effective August 24, 2024) and Class Specifications; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
West Virginia state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective August 24, 2024. These are the ranges West Virginia sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Correctional Officer 1 Class 8911 · class description Grade 9 | $31,533 – $53,916 a year |
| Correctional Officer 2 Class 8912 · class description Grade 10 | $32,862 – $56,373 a year |
| Correctional Officer 3 Class 8913 · class description Grade 11 | $34,247 – $58,936 a year |
| Correctional Officer 4 Class 8914 · class description Grade 12 | $35,702 – $61,628 a year |
| Correctional Officer 5 Class 8915 · class description Grade 13 | $37,536 – $65,020 a year |
| Correctional Officer 6 Class 8916 · class description Grade 14 | $39,461 – $68,582 a year |
| Correctional Officer 7 Class 8917 · class description Grade 15 | $41,194 – $71,789 a year |
Schedule: Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (Division of Personnel). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel, West Virginia Division of Personnel — Schedule of Salary Grades 2-26 (effective August 24, 2024) and Class Specifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in West Virginia, all employers Sourced
Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) in West Virginia, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | WV |
|---|---|
| Workers | 2,980 |
| 10th percentile | $45,390 |
| Median | $52,890 |
| 90th percentile | $75,610 |
| National median, government employers | $59,490 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for West Virginia
Corrections Officer Entrance ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- NTN REACT Adult Corrections Officer ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Correctional Officer (state prison) page.