California correctional lieutenant salaries by employer, 2025
1,339 people held a correctional lieutenant title at 28 California state prisons and county jails in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $171,563, overtime included, against $125,799 for officers.
What is the average correctional lieutenant salary in California?
Highest- and lowest-paying among the 4 employers with at least 10 full-year lieutenants. The lists below include every employer with at least 5.
- Correctional lieutenants
- 1,339
- 1,133 of them worked the full year
- Median total pay
- $158,967
- the middle lieutenant: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $26,634
- average per full-year lieutenant; the middle one $14,553
- Official range
- $117,204
- to $147,480: the middle reported bottom and top
Which California correctional employers pay lieutenants the most?
By average total pay of full-year correctional lieutenants, among employers with at least 5 of them.
Highest average total pay
- Santa Clara CountyCounty jails
15 full-year lieutenants$297,226 - Santa Barbara CountyCounty jails
6 full-year lieutenants$206,168 - Sonoma CountyCounty jails
7 full-year lieutenants$197,425 - California Correctional Health Care ServicesState department, state prisons
26 full-year lieutenants$178,909 - California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationState department, state prisons
990 full-year lieutenants$171,012 - San Joaquin CountyCounty jails
9 full-year lieutenants$152,232 - Riverside CountyCounty jails
22 full-year lieutenants$150,544 - Fresno CountyCounty jails
8 full-year lieutenants$148,693 - Kern CountyCounty jails
9 full-year lieutenants$145,860
California average for lieutenants, $171,563
Which California counties pay correctional lieutenants the most?
Average total pay of full-year lieutenants across each county's state prisons and county jails, where at least 5 of them worked the full year. The dashed line marks the California average of $171,563.
Compare correctional lieutenant pay at every California employer
Every employer with at least 5 correctional lieutenants: what full-year lieutenants earned and the official range for the rank. Click a column to sort it.
Showing all 12 employers, highest average total pay first.
| Santa Clara CountySanta Clara County | Santa Clara | $297,226 | $66,124 | $165,622 to $201,354 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara County | Santa Barbara | $206,168 | $0 | $150,280 to $181,066 | 9 |
| Sonoma CountySonoma County | Sonoma | $197,425 | $8,281 | $158,955 to $193,226 | 9 |
| California Correctional Health Care ServicesStatewide | Statewide | $178,909 | $39,323 | $117,204 to $147,480 | 31 |
| California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationStatewide | Statewide | $171,012 | $27,890 | $117,204 to $147,480 | 1,160 |
| San Joaquin CountySan Joaquin County | San Joaquin | $152,232 | $5,144 | $111,950 to $136,075 | 9 |
| Riverside CountyRiverside County | Riverside | $150,544 | $5,386 | $139,667 to $173,780 | 28 |
| Fresno CountyFresno County | Fresno | $148,693 | $16,802 | $103,480 to $132,054 | 11 |
| Kern CountyKern County | Kern | $145,860 | $0 | $130,338 | 11 |
| Butte CountyButte County | Butte | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | $118,851 to $159,286 | 5 |
| Solano CountySolano County | Solano | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | $128,536 to $156,236 | 6 |
| Tulare CountyTulare County | Tulare | Fewer than 5 | Fewer than 5 | $131,414 to $160,159 | 7 |
No employer matches. Clear the search or pick another county or size.
"Fewer than 5": fewer than 5 lieutenants worked the full year, too few for an average. Employers with fewer than 5 lieutenants aren't listed.
How much more do correctional lieutenants earn than officers in California?
Average total pay of full-year staff at every California state prisons and county jails, overtime included.
Lieutenants earn $45,764 more than officers on average. Sergeants average $152,162 and captains average $171,029.
Questions about correctional lieutenant pay in California
How much does a correctional lieutenant make in California?
Full-year California correctional lieutenants at state prisons and county jails earned an average of $171,563 in 2025, including $26,634 in overtime. The middle lieutenant earned $158,967. Officers averaged $125,799.
Which California correctional employer pays lieutenants the most?
Among employers with at least 10 full-year lieutenants, Santa Clara County has the highest average total pay, $297,226, followed by California Correctional Health Care Services ($178,909) and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ($171,012).
Which California county pays correctional lieutenants the most?
Santa Clara County, where full-year lieutenants at its state prisons and county jails averaged $297,226, followed by Santa Barbara County ($206,168) and Sonoma County ($197,425).
What is the official pay range for a correctional lieutenant in California?
Across California's employers, the middle reported range for lieutenants runs from $117,204 to $147,480 a year. Each employer's own range is in the table on this page.
Sources for the California correctional lieutenant figures
Every person who held a correctional lieutenant title at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages and pension and health contributions as reported by each county and city and the state departments.