What Do Correctional Officer Supervisors Do?

Correctional Officer Supervisor Definition Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

Daily Life Of a Correctional Officer Supervisor

• Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
• Develop work or security procedures.
• Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.
• Supervise activities such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
• Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.
• Convey correctional officers’ or inmates’ complaints to superiors.

Skills Needed to be a Correctional Officer Supervisor

When polled, Correctional Officer Supervisors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

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

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

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

Related Job Titles

• Third Shift Lieutenant
• Detention Director
• Correctional Lieutenant
• Guard Supervisor
• Corrections Colonel

Is There Going to be Demand for Correctional Officer Supervisors?

In the United States, there were 45,200 jobs for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers in 2016.

Correctional Officer Supervisor jobs are decreasing by a rate of -7.8%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -3,500 jobs for Correctional Officer Supervisors by 2026. The BLS estimates 2,500 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers are Illinois, Washington, and Nevada.

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

Average Correctional Officer Supervisor Salary

The typical yearly salary for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers is somewhere between $41,710 and $103,090. A Correctional Officer Supervisor median salary is $63,340.

How much do First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New Jersey	$105,690
California	$100,910
Alaska	$93,390
New York	$90,600
Illinois	$86,840
Oregon	$85,010
Nevada	$84,480
District of Columbia	$79,680
Minnesota	$78,440
Utah	$75,710
Connecticut	$73,590
Washington	$72,750
New Hampshire	$70,790
Iowa	$69,790
Massachusetts	$68,980
Michigan	$67,330
Wisconsin	$66,070
Ohio	$65,380
Maryland	$65,270
South Dakota	$64,100
Oklahoma	$63,690
Wyoming	$62,920
Florida	$62,490
Vermont	$61,780
West Virginia	$61,000
Tennessee	$56,990
Alabama	$56,630
Arizona	$56,580
Virginia	$56,430
South Carolina	$56,420
North Dakota	$56,330
Nebraska	$55,690
North Carolina	$55,580
Montana	$54,260
Louisiana	$53,180
Texas	$52,500
Idaho	$52,350
Maine	$51,570
Missouri	$49,970
New Mexico	$49,630
Kansas	$48,890
Kentucky	$47,920
Indiana	$47,240
Arkansas	$47,100
Georgia	$47,090
Mississippi	$43,720

What Tools & Technology do Correctional Officer Supervisors Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Correctional Officer Supervisors:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Access

Becoming a Correctional Officer Supervisor

Are there Correctional Officer Supervisor education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Correctional Officer Supervisor?

Where do Correctional Officer Supervisors Work?

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Correctional Officer Supervisor may also be interested in:

• Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors
• Police Patrol Officers
• Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Are you already one of the many Correctional Officer Supervisors in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons