Bailiffs: Job Description
Maintain order in courts of law.
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The Daily Work of Bailiffs Perform?
The core tasks performed by bailiffs cover:
- Screen persons entering courthouse using magnetometers, x-ray machines, and other devices to collect and retain unauthorized firearms and other contraband.
- Escort prisoners to and from courthouse and maintain custody of prisoners during court proceedings.
- Maintain order in courtroom during trial and guard jury from outside contact.
- Provide security by patrolling interior and exterior of courthouse and escorting judges and other court employees.
- Guard lodging of sequestered jury.
- Enforce courtroom rules of behavior and warn persons not to smoke or disturb court procedure.
- Arrest persons in court when arrest warrants have been issued.
- Report need for police or medical assistance to sheriff's office.
Skills and Knowledge
Top bailiffs rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Armed Bailiff
- Bailiff
- Bailiff Deputy
- City Bailiff
- County Bailiff
- Court Bailiff
- Court Constable
- Court Deputy
How Many Bailiffs Are There?
There are about 163,906 bailiffs working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Bailiffs Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $55,588 |
| Hourly median | $26.73 |
| 10th percentile | $36,040 |
| 25th percentile | $45,814 |
| 75th percentile | $65,363 |
| 90th percentile | $75,137 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Bailiffs Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $109,150 |
| Alaska | $90,730 |
| New York | $80,930 |
| Massachusetts | $76,770 |
| Nebraska | $75,260 |
| Nevada | $72,070 |
| Kansas | $66,100 |
| Washington | $65,450 |
| Maine | $65,100 |
| Florida | $63,820 |
| Colorado | $62,150 |
| North Carolina | $61,140 |
| Virginia | $59,480 |
| Texas | $58,390 |
| Utah | $57,860 |
| Oregon | $56,310 |
| Michigan | $55,950 |
| Maryland | $55,950 |
| Iowa | $52,740 |
| Georgia | $52,460 |
| Louisiana | $51,730 |
| Ohio | $51,130 |
| Minnesota | $50,390 |
| Idaho | $50,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,160 |
| Hawaii | $46,610 |
| Arizona | $46,430 |
| Illinois | $46,290 |
| Arkansas | $45,630 |
| Indiana | $45,480 |
| Missouri | $43,680 |
| Mississippi | $39,940 |
| Wisconsin | $39,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,550 |
| New Hampshire | $37,260 |
| Tennessee | $36,510 |
| Alabama | $36,130 |
| Wyoming | $36,070 |
| West Virginia | $34,800 |
| Kentucky | $33,900 |
| South Carolina | $30,330 |
| North Dakota | $27,560 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for bailiffs vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $74,422 | 26.7% | 2.96 |
| New England | $74,327 | 6.4% | 2.15 |
| Far Western US | $68,170 | 3.5% | 0.99 |
| Plains States | $53,301 | 5.7% | 2.25 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,721 | 1.5% | 0.80 |
| Southeast | $49,944 | 22.8% | 1.25 |
| Great Lakes | $49,456 | 22.3% | 1.85 |
| Southwest | $42,222 | 6.4% | 0.70 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Bailiffs
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $95,460 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $87,440 | 2,500 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $87,050 | 240 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $86,240 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $82,100 | 380 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | FL | $81,680 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $79,330 | 70 |
| Syracuse, NY | NY | $78,230 | 80 |
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for bailiffs reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level bailiffs positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Lawyers (Supplemental)
- Judicial Law Clerks (Supplemental)
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (Supplemental)
- Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators (Supplemental)
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (Supplemental)
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring bailiffs commonly pursue programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-3011.00 (Bailiffs).
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