~ pennsylvania
~

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

TO:

All Inmates

FROM:

George M. Little
Secretary of Corrections

DATE:

December 29, 2022

SUBJECT:

Pay Scale Increase

As we celebrate this holiday season, it is refreshing to look back over the past year and see how
far we’ve come. At the beginning of 2022, we were still experiencing high rates of COVID cases,
and facilities continued to operate under modified operations. Facilities are now operating
normally, class and program attendance are maximized, and in-person visits have continued
without interruption.
Although we’ve seen progress, we’ve also been impacted by a record-high post-pandemic
inflation rate and other issues related to procuring goods and services, which recently forced
the department to raise the prices of many of the items you purchase regularly. You have
taken these changes in stride, and we appreciate your cooperation during this time. We also
understand the burden the rising costs have placed on you and your families.
I am happy to report that effective January 1, 2023, the Department is increasing all pay scales
and levels by 20%. This change will be retroactive to December 1, 2022. A copy of the new pay
scale is attached.
We ask for your patience as we work through these changes and retroactive payments. It may
take some time for our facilities to process the pay, but know that we are committed to making
it right. If you feel that your January pay is incorrect, please reach out to your employment
office so they can review your payroll records.
We hope this pay raise is welcome to you, and we thank you for cooperating with your facility
leadership as they move through these changes. If you have any questions regarding this
memo, please contact your unit team for assistance.
Attachment:
Inmate Pay Scale – Effective January 1, 2023
Department of Corrections | Office of the Secretary
1920 Technology Parkway| Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050
www.cor.pa.gov

Inmate Pay Scale – Effective January 1, 2023
Step A
Step B
Step C
Class 1
.23
.24
.25
Class 2
.29
.30
.32
Class 3
.40
.42
.46
Class 4 (CWP, Elizabethtown Culinary Academy Completion and Return to Food
Service assignment, and Barber/Cosmetology details)

General Labor Pool (GLP): Eighty-Six Cents ($.86) per day, five days per week.
Medical Allowance: Sixty Cents ($.60) per day, five days per week.
Pre-Boot Camp Orientation
Green Phase (Phase 1)
Red Phase (Phase 2)
Gold Phase (Phase 3)

Boot Camp
$.90/day; ($.30*3 hours)
$1.44/day; ($.24*6 hours)
$1.80/day; ($.30*6 hours)
$2.52/day; ($.42*6 hours)

Department of Corrections | Office of the Secretary
1920 Technology Parkway| Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050
www.cor.pa.gov

Step D
.28
.35
.50
.61