What is a Correctional Officer or Jailer?

Correctional Officer or Jailer Definition 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.

List of Correctional Officer or Jailer Job Duties

• Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
• Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
• Search for and recapture escapees.
• Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
• Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
• Participate in required job training.

Things a Correctional Officer or Jailer Should Know How to Do

Correctional Officers and Jailers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Related Job Titles

• Corrections Corporal
• Cottage Supervisor
• Matron
• Correctional Officer
• Station Jailer

Is There Going to be Demand for Correctional Officers and Jailers?

In the United States, there were 450,000 jobs for Correctional Officers and Jailers in 2016.

Correctional Officer or Jailer jobs are decreasing by a rate of -7.7%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -34,500 jobs for Correctional Officers and Jailers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 31,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Correctional Officers and Jailers are Washington, Illinois, and South Dakota.

Watch out if you plan on working in California, New York, or Florida. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers

The salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers ranges between about $31,140 and $76,760 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $44,330.

How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$75,400
New Jersey	$70,280
Rhode Island	$68,710
Massachusetts	$67,920
Alaska	$64,670
New York	$64,490
Illinois	$62,440
Nevada	$62,140
Hawaii	$59,020
Oregon	$58,450
Washington	$57,740
Connecticut	$54,420
Pennsylvania	$54,140
Michigan	$51,890
Minnesota	$51,660
Iowa	$50,750
Colorado	$50,620
Maryland	$49,220
New Hampshire	$47,860
Utah	$46,150
Vermont	$45,810
Ohio	$45,190
North Dakota	$44,700
Wisconsin	$44,230
Arizona	$44,150
Florida	$43,410
Texas	$42,380
Wyoming	$42,290
Virginia	$41,860
Montana	$40,570
Maine	$40,440
Nebraska	$40,310
Idaho	$39,710
South Dakota	$39,310
North Carolina	$38,500
South Carolina	$37,560
Indiana	$36,960
West Virginia	$36,960
Alabama	$36,760
Kansas	$36,550
New Mexico	$36,250
Kentucky	$35,940
Tennessee	$35,470
Louisiana	$34,370
Georgia	$34,290
Arkansas	$34,120
Oklahoma	$33,060
Missouri	$31,650
Mississippi	$30,840

What Tools do Correctional Officers and Jailers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Correctional Officers and Jailers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word

How do I Become a Correctional Officer or Jailer?

Are there Correctional Officer or Jailer education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Correctional Officers and Jailers Are Employed

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons