How much are inmates paid for prison work in the US?

1. Extracting the central claims readers care about: what the data actually says

Published summaries and compilations assert several consistent claims: incarcerated people doing basic institutional work (cleaning, kitchen, grounds) are typically paid only cents per hour, commonly cited as roughly $0.12–$0.63/hour across jurisdictions, while those placed in prison-run factories or Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) may earn $0.23–$1.15/hour or up to $1.41/hour in some state programs. Multiple sources also report daily-wage-style figures from a 2017 survey that show average daily minimums of $0.86 for non-industry jobs and daily maximums of $3.45 for industry jobs. Finally, several states (including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas) are reported to pay nothing for many routine in-prison jobs, underscoring wide policy variation ^{[1] [4] [2] [3]}.

2. Sorting federal versus state markets: where cents meet dollars

Federal and state systems differ in structure and pay. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reportedly offers very low pay for institutional jobs (around $0.12–$0.40/hour) and higher but still modest wages in UNICOR factory roles (reported $0.23–$1.15/hour). State systems show broader dispersion: many states pay similarly low cents-per-hour amounts for maintenance and kitchen roles (reported averages around $0.14–$0.63/hour), while a subset of state-run industries or specific programs may reach $0.33–$1.41/hour and, in rare cases, up to $2.00/hour for certain jurisdictions. The reported daily-wage figures (e.g., $0.86–$3.45) reflect aggregated 2017 survey data that blends job types and should be read as historical benchmarks rather than uniform current rates ^{[2] [4] [3] [1]}.

3. How deductions and fees change the arithmetic: gross pay versus take-home

Multiple analyses highlight that gross wages are often further reduced by mandatory deductions for restitution, court fees, victim compensation, room-and-board charges, and commissary or medical costs. These deductions can consume a large share of an incarcerated worker’s earnings, leaving less than half of reported gross pay as actual disposable funds. The presence of state-level programs that either assign no pay for many routine jobs or redirect substantial portions of low wages to obligations means the real financial benefit to incarcerated workers is frequently negligible; this dynamic also affects families who rely on prisoner earnings for commissary items and legal costs ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

4. Questions, limitations, and why exact numbers remain contested

The available figures draw on a mix of federal program disclosures, state policy surveys, and research compilations, many of which summarize data collected at different times and with differing scopes. Some sources rely on 2017 survey data for daily averages while others cite more recent state-by-state reports indicating zero-pay policies in specific jurisdictions; discrepancies reflect changing state legislation, program closures, and differing definitions of “work” (institutional service work versus prison industry employment). The analyses note gaps in timely, standardized national reporting and recommend caution when extrapolating a single national “wage” because the variation by state, job type, and deduction policy is substantial ^{[1] [5] [3]}.

5. Bottom line for policymakers, journalists, and the public

Across federal and state systems, incarcerated workers generally earn well below minimum wage, most commonly cents per hour with a minority of roles approaching or exceeding a dollar per hour; several states pay nothing for routine prison jobs, and mandatory deductions further shrink take-home amounts. These facts are reported consistently across independent compilations and institutional summaries, though precise hourly or daily figures vary by source and date; readers should treat single-number headlines cautiously and consult state-level program rules for jurisdiction-specific rates ^{[1] [2] [3]}.