Bailiffs: Salary Overview
Bailiffs are law enforcement officers who maintain order and safety in the courtroom.
They also escort judges, jurors, witnesses, and prisoners in the courtroom and handle evidence and court documents.
Another job responsibility for bailiffs consists of ensuring that attorneys and witnesses don’t influence jurors outside the courtroom and they may isolate jurors from the public in some situations.
Their job descriptions vary by court.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for bailiffs was $47,830 in May 2019.
This number shows that half of all bailiffs earned less than $47,830 and half of them earned more.
Salaries in this field vary based on a wide range of factors, including the bailiff’s level of experience, education, the region, and the employer.
The highest 10 percent earned more than $78,090 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,740.
Bailiff Salary by Level of Experience
The level of experience is another important factor that influences bailiff’s salary.
As an entry-level bailiff with less than 1-2 years of experience, you can expect to earn somewhere in the range of $30,000 a year but your salary will grow as you gain a few years of experience in the field.
Top-level bailiffs, who have more than 15 years of work experience in the field, can earn up to $80,000 a year or $38-$39 per hour.
As a mid-level bailiff you can expect to earn a salary that is close to the median for this occupation, so somewhere in the range of $47,000-$48,000 which translates into an hourly rate of $22-$23.
Junior-level bailiffs who have around 2-5 years of experience can expect to have a salary close to the 25% percentile, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $34,530 a year or $16.60 per hour.
Senior-level bailiffs who have between 10-15 years of experience in the field earn an annual salary that is close to the 75% percentile which, according to BLS is $67,180 a year or $32.30.
However, there are many other factors that can influence a bailiff’s salary; for example, a mid-level bailiff who works for the state government typically earns more than a mid-level bailiff employed by a local government.
Bailiff Salary by Industry
Typically bailiffs work for the local government or for the state government.
Annual wages are greatly influenced by the bailiff’s level of experience, the employer, the region of employment, and the level of government spending.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, bailiffs held about 19,600 jobs in 2018.
Most bailiffs (72%) work for local governments, an industry that offers a median annual wage of $45,870 as of May 2019.
State governments employed about 27% of all bailiffs and typically offer a higher salary.
Bailiffs who work for state governments earned a median annual wage of $67,670 as of May 2019.
Bailiff Salary by Compensation Structure
Bailiffs receive a base salary and benefits package that includes paid sick leave, vacation time, and life and health insurance.
They may also receive annual incentives that may raise their cash compensation by a few thousand dollars a year.
The compensation package depends on the employer, the bailiff’s level of experience, and the region of employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for bailiffs is projected to decline by 1 percent from 2018 to 2028.
However, bailiffs will continue to be needed to maintain order in courtrooms, handle evidence and escort judges, jurors, witnesses, and prisoners.
Job openings will continue to appear due to the need to replace bailiffs who retire or transfer to other occupations so if you’re an academy graduate who also has some years of experience your job prospects are expected to be good.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Bailiffs. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.