---
title: "Median income for a US prison guard:  ~60 K/year. Median income in El..."
date: 2025-02-06
source: facebook
type: comment
context: "Michael Michalchik's post"
fb_link: "https://www.facebook.com/dyi/l/?l=AYNGmINRAeMk4u4prwpFkGGoHrDUGht-FmWdNhZBPhvV_YDTBmUJcj0XRMI3dac139AhSve9ZvTAlDOBPd84p-i1oBqD6kTswzSB0hURKD8tA9wvvR57CUrBlMS28UqIacH3afHLNwbOHB8JgqJpYRb5329QCb4aMmXP78bRpIeNd4rV6FvgiujgmYCm8yvc_nDRy5rAWYQ&s=519"
---

# Median income for a US prison guard:  ~60 K/year. Median income in El...

*February 6, 2025 — Comment Michael Michalchik's post*

Median income for a US prison guard:  ~60 K/year. Median income in El Salvador:  ~5 K/year. So, you could house US prisoners in El Salvador for 1/10th the cost as you can in the US.  (Assuming some of the difference is eaten up by travel costs.) Here's how I would do it:  give prisoners a voucher equivalent to the median cost of housing prisoners in their state.  With that voucher, they can switch to any prison in the world that will take them.  If they find a prison that costs less, they get to keep half the difference in price, and the government keeps the other half.