Correctional Officers and Jailers: Career Overview
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
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What Do Correctional Officers and Jailers Perform?
The core tasks performed by correctional officers and jailers cover:
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top correctional officers and jailers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Booking Officer
- Certified Detention Deputy
- Civilian Jail Officer
- Community Corrections Officer (CCO)
- Community Services Officer (CSO)
- Confinement Officer
- Convict Guard
- Correction Officer
How Many Correctional Officers and Jailers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 473,544 correctional officers and jailers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.7% over the projection horizon.
Correctional Officers and Jailers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $59,482 |
| Hourly median | $28.60 |
| 10th percentile | $42,360 |
| 25th percentile | $50,921 |
| 75th percentile | $68,043 |
| 90th percentile | $76,604 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $95,840 |
| New Jersey | $90,150 |
| Oregon | $83,120 |
| Massachusetts | $78,830 |
| Illinois | $78,750 |
| Nevada | $76,800 |
| Washington | $76,400 |
| New York | $75,330 |
| Wisconsin | $74,490 |
| Alaska | $71,360 |
| Hawaii | $66,250 |
| Michigan | $65,250 |
| Minnesota | $64,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,540 |
| Connecticut | $62,690 |
| Nebraska | $62,680 |
| Maryland | $62,380 |
| New Hampshire | $61,420 |
| Utah | $61,340 |
| Delaware | $61,000 |
| Colorado | $60,670 |
| Rhode Island | $60,170 |
| Ohio | $58,840 |
| North Dakota | $55,760 |
| Arizona | $54,970 |
| South Dakota | $52,310 |
| Wyoming | $51,740 |
| Tennessee | $51,490 |
| Idaho | $51,440 |
| Iowa | $51,420 |
| Maine | $51,270 |
| Texas | $51,020 |
| West Virginia | $49,990 |
| Virginia | $49,980 |
| Montana | $49,700 |
| Vermont | $49,110 |
| North Carolina | $49,080 |
| South Carolina | $48,470 |
| Florida | $48,260 |
| New Mexico | $47,420 |
| Alabama | $46,400 |
| Kansas | $46,080 |
| Indiana | $45,970 |
| Oklahoma | $45,970 |
| Georgia | $44,500 |
| Louisiana | $41,820 |
| Missouri | $41,310 |
| Arkansas | $40,330 |
| Kentucky | $40,230 |
| Mississippi | $36,710 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for correctional officers and jailers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $90,392 | 14.6% | 0.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,615 | 16.6% | 1.14 |
| New England | $68,460 | 3.5% | 0.74 |
| Great Lakes | $65,496 | 12.6% | 0.88 |
| Rocky Mountains | $57,553 | 3.6% | 0.98 |
| Plains States | $51,778 | 6.0% | 0.94 |
| Southwest | $51,445 | 16.4% | 1.33 |
| Southeast | $46,554 | 26.8% | 1.12 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Correctional Officers and Jailers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $131,210 | 1,050 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $106,490 | 1,490 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $104,090 | 3,290 |
| El Centro, CA | CA | $104,090 | 1,320 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $104,090 | 700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $100,540 | 1,620 |
| Vineland, NJ | NJ | $99,480 | 1,160 |
| Merced, CA | CA | $98,550 | 240 |
Which Industries Hire Correctional Officers and Jailers
The bulk of correctional officers and jailers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 16,270 | $49,140 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 840 | $40,260 |
Below are examples of industries where correctional officers and jailers work:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (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)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for correctional officers and jailers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Supplemental)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Psychiatric Aides (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring correctional officers and jailers commonly pursue programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
4 programs across 1 majors
References
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: 33-3012.00 (Correctional Officers and Jailers).
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