Pay and Benefits
You can learn more about available benefits by viewing the Bargaining Unit 6 contract.
Annual Salary up to $111,000 with available incentives
Salary Ranges
Salary benefits begin when you arrive at the academy.
After completion of the Academy, cadets are moved to a higher range in the pay scale. Thereafter, semi-annual and annual adjustments to higher ranges are made until the Correctional Officer reaches the top of the pay scale.
Correctional Officer
| During Academy | $4,222 /month |
| After Academy | $5,194 /month |
| Top of Pay Scale | $8,675 /month |
Immediate Hiring Needs for Northern Institutions!
Priority Prisons
Pay Bonus
CDCR offers recruitment and retention pay or housing stipends at some institutions in addition to the regular salary.
Retention Differential
BU6 employees who work at institutions listed below will be eligible to start accruing up to a $10,000 retention differential, payable in two (2) payments during the term of the MOU. For more information visit MOU BU 6
- California State Prison, Sacramento
- Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
- Salinas Valley State Prison
Housing Stipend
BU6 employees listed at the institutions below are eligible for $200 per month housing stipend. For more information, visit MOU BU 6
- Correctional Training Facility
- Salinas Valley State Prison
- San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Location Incentive Bonus
- Cadets who accept/choose to work at one of the institutions listed below will be eligible to receive a $5,000 location incentive bonus, provided the cadet meets all of the following criteria:
- 1) The institution they accept/choose is fifty (50) or more miles away from their current home address;
- 2) They are required to move their home address closer to their new institution; and
- 3) They are required to provide substantiation of their address change and move within one hundred twenty (120) days of reporting to the institution.
- For more information visit MOU BU 6
- California Health Care Facility
- California Medical Facility
- California State Prison, Corcoran
- California State Prison, Los Angeles County
- California State Prison, Sacramento
- Correctional Training Facility
- High Desert State Prison
- Kern Valley State Prison
- Pelican Bay State Prison
- Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
- Salinas Valley State Prison
- San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
- Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran
Recruitment and Retention Incentives
BU6 employees at the institutions listed below for twelve (12) consecutive qualifying pay periods, shall be eligible for a recruitment and retention incentive of $2,600. For more information, visit MOU BU 6
- Avenal State Prison
- Ironwood State Prison
- Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
- Calipatria State Prison
- Centinela State Prison
- Pelican Bay State Prison
- High Desert State Prison
Benefits
CDCR offers exceptional benefits for Correctional Officers.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Sick and Vacation Leave
- Paid Holidays
- Housing Stipend (only available at specific institutions)
- Recruitment and Retention Differential Pay (only available at specific institutions)
- Bilingual Pay
- Education incentive
- 401 (k) Plan
- 457 Deferred Compensation
Post 9/11 GI Bill ®
Military and veteran applicants may be eligible to receive Montgomery and/or Post 9-11 GI Bill. CDCR has been certified by the Department of Veteran Affairs as an approved Veterans Education program for cadets enrolled in the Basic Correctional Officer Academy and during the correctional officer’s two year apprenticeship an any CDCR facility.
Retirement
CalPERS Retirement – 2.5% at 57 years of age
Your benefit factor is the percentage of pay to which you are entitled for each year of service. It is determined by your age at retirement and the retirement formula based on your membership date with each employer. Visit www.calpers.ca.gov for detailed information regarding safety retirement.
After 25 years of service, 100% paid retiree health benefits.