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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Before negotiating salary, check what the market actually pays — city by city. The national median salary for Probation Officers in 2026 is $69,833, with entry-level positions averaging $50,280 and senior roles reaching $99,163. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $127,200, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Probation Officer falls within the Community & Social Services sector, specifically in Community & Social. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is field/office — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$77,400 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Probation Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Probation Officers average $50,280, the median sits at $69,833, and senior earners pull in $99,163. That $48,883 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $10,534 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $118,800, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $50,200. The $68,600 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Probation Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Probation Officer is $50,280, while senior-level (P90) earners average $99,163. That $48,883 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Probation Officers average $50,280 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $50,280 | $69,833 | $99,163 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £26,129 | £36,290 | £51,532 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$40,459 | CA$56,193 | CA$79,794 |
| Australia | 13 | A$45,298 | A$62,913 | A$89,337 |
| Sweden | 24 | 289,933 kr | 402,685 kr | 571,813 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $60,685 | $84,285 | $119,685 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $58,644 | $81,450 | $115,659 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $58,320 | $81,000 | $115,020 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $54,000 | $75,000 | $106,500 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Washington | 8 | $52,326 | $72,675 | $103,199 |
| New York | 5 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Florida | 22 | $48,875 | $67,882 | $96,392 |
| Colorado | 11 | $48,031 | $66,709 | $94,727 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $47,952 | $66,600 | $94,572 |
| Nevada | 5 | $47,866 | $66,480 | $94,402 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,628 | $66,150 | $93,933 |
| Oregon | 5 | $47,520 | $66,000 | $93,720 |
| Idaho | 3 | $47,376 | $65,800 | $93,436 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $47,002 | $65,280 | $92,698 |
| Utah | 4 | $46,872 | $65,100 | $92,442 |
| Virginia | 7 | $46,101 | $64,029 | $90,921 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $45,504 | $63,200 | $89,744 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
| Illinois | 5 | $44,842 | $62,280 | $88,438 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $43,728 | $60,733 | $86,241 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $43,056 | $59,800 | $84,916 |
| Texas | 40 | $42,844 | $59,505 | $84,497 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $42,552 | $59,100 | $83,922 |
| Georgia | 6 | $42,408 | $58,900 | $83,638 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $42,336 | $58,800 | $83,496 |
| Kansas | 4 | $42,120 | $58,500 | $83,070 |
| Michigan | 6 | $41,976 | $58,300 | $82,786 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Maryland | 1 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $39,960 | $55,500 | $78,810 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $39,744 | $55,200 | $78,384 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Missouri | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Alabama | 5 | $39,053 | $54,240 | $77,021 |
| Indiana | 3 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Iowa | 2 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Ohio | 6 | $37,944 | $52,700 | $74,834 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
Geography shapes Probation Officer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $84,285 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($127,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $60,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $127,200 | 212 | $60,000 | $76,981 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $118,800 | 198 | $60,000 | $72,357 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $110,400 | 184 | $60,000 | $67,733 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $108,600 | 181 | $60,000 | $66,742 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $106,800 | 178 | $60,000 | $65,751 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $101,400 | 169 | $60,000 | $62,778 |
Career economics for Probation Officers: entry level averages $50,280, mid-career hits $69,833, and experienced professionals reach $99,163. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is field/office. The outlook: steady. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Probation Officers is $69,833 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $50,280, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $99,163.
The highest-paying city for Probation Officers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $127,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($127,200), Santa Clara ($118,800), Irvine ($110,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Probation Officer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $49,800. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Probation Officers (10th percentile) average $50,280 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $91,584. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Probation Officers average $99,163 nationally — $48,883 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Probation Officers can earn up to $180,624.
The top-paying states for Probation Officers are California ($84,285 median), Massachusetts ($81,450 median), Hawaii ($81,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Probation Officer involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Community & Social Services sector (Community & Social), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically field/office.
With a national median of $69,833 and representation across 288 metro areas, Probation Officer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $48,883 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.