Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: Career Profile
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
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The Daily Work of Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Perform?
The core tasks performed by probation officers and correctional treatment specialists include:
- Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
- Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
- Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
- Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
- Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
- Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seizure.
- Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
- Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
Skills and Knowledge
Top probation officers and correctional treatment specialists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adult Probation Officer
- Adult Probation and Parole Officer
- Attendance Officer
- Community Corrections Specialist
- Community Supervision Officer
- Correctional Case Manager
- Correctional Casework Specialist
- Correctional Counselor
Job Outlook
There are roughly 35,217 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +2.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $40,804 |
| Hourly median | $19.62 |
| 10th percentile | $22,730 |
| 25th percentile | $31,767 |
| 75th percentile | $49,841 |
| 90th percentile | $58,878 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,050 |
| Connecticut | $94,600 |
| Massachusetts | $90,700 |
| Oregon | $82,970 |
| New York | $80,060 |
| Washington | $79,800 |
| Minnesota | $79,510 |
| Michigan | $79,230 |
| Iowa | $78,640 |
| New Jersey | $77,810 |
| Delaware | $75,810 |
| Utah | $74,860 |
| Vermont | $74,130 |
| Alaska | $73,570 |
| Maryland | $72,770 |
| Nevada | $71,840 |
| Hawaii | $71,330 |
| Illinois | $70,350 |
| Maine | $69,060 |
| District of Columbia | $68,750 |
| Colorado | $66,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,510 |
| North Dakota | $64,860 |
| New Mexico | $63,500 |
| Nebraska | $61,510 |
| Indiana | $60,920 |
| Wisconsin | $60,470 |
| North Carolina | $60,410 |
| Arizona | $60,250 |
| Ohio | $60,090 |
| Louisiana | $59,010 |
| Idaho | $58,950 |
| Alabama | $58,390 |
| Tennessee | $58,010 |
| Virginia | $57,010 |
| Wyoming | $56,940 |
| Kansas | $56,120 |
| South Carolina | $56,090 |
| Kentucky | $55,910 |
| Georgia | $54,490 |
| Texas | $51,900 |
| Florida | $50,540 |
| Oklahoma | $50,380 |
| West Virginia | $50,220 |
| Montana | $49,140 |
| Arkansas | $48,970 |
| Missouri | $45,390 |
| Mississippi | $32,500 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,581 | 20.4% | 1.25 |
| New England | $90,122 | 3.3% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $74,028 | 15.8% | 1.08 |
| Great Lakes | $66,498 | 12.8% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $65,161 | 5.1% | 1.29 |
| Plains States | $63,140 | 7.5% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $55,151 | 23.4% | 1.04 |
| Southwest | $53,458 | 11.8% | 0.94 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $139,550 | 530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $131,330 | 800 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $109,570 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $107,530 | 4,360 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $101,810 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $100,120 | 1,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $98,690 | 1,160 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $96,980 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
The bulk of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,570 | $42,220 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 680 | $54,180 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 90 | $46,800 |
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists work in the following industries:
Software Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Use
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Education and Training
Entry-level probation officers and correctional treatment specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Supplemental)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Students preparing for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists commonly pursue programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
1 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: 21-1092.00 (Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists).
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