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.
Correctional Officers and Jailers
SOC: 33-3012 O*NET: 33-3012.00
Median Salary
$57,970
per year
Job Growth
📉 -7.8%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
30.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Correctional Officers and Jailers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$41,750
10th percentile
Early Career
$47,520
25th percentile
Median
$57,970
50th percentile
Experienced
$75,330
75th percentile
Top Earners
$93,000
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$41,750
25th
$47,520
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$57,970
Mean: $62,760
75th
$75,330
90th
$93,000
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $51,250 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $47,520 and $75,330
- •Salary spread is 48.0% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 365,380 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:387,500
Top Industries
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services4.5%
Administrative and Support Services4.5%
Facilities Support Services3.9%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-7.8%
Annual Openings:30,100
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)387,500
Current
2034 (Projected)357,400
-7.8%
-30,100
Employment Change
-7.8%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Correctional Officers and Jailers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
Texas
39,150 jobs$51,0201.19x
California
37,760 jobs$95,8400.88x
New York
29,710 jobs$75,3301.31x
Florida
22,390 jobs$48,2600.96x
Pennsylvania
15,260 jobs$63,5401.07x
Arizona
13,840 jobs$54,9701.83x
Ohio
12,350 jobs$58,8400.94x
Illinois
12,210 jobs$78,7500.85x
North Carolina
11,780 jobs$49,0801.01x
Virginia
11,720 jobs$49,9801.22x
Georgia
10,090 jobs$44,5000.88x
Michigan
8,200 jobs$65,2500.79x
New Jersey
7,840 jobs$90,1500.78x
Tennessee
7,610 jobs$51,4900.98x
Louisiana
7,290 jobs$41,8201.61x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Social Perceptiveness
100%
#2
Monitoring
94%
#3
Active Listening
86%
#4
Speaking
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Reading Comprehension
66%
#7
Coordination
60%
#8
Persuasion
54%
#9
Complex Problem Solving
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%
Skills Overview
Social Perceptiveness
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
advanced4.7
94%
Active Listening
intermediate4.3
86%
Speaking
intermediate4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.3
66%
Coordination
intermediate3.0
60%
Persuasion
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Social Perceptiveness
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Coordination
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Persuasion
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Athletes and Sports Competitors82%
5 shared skills
Fish and Game Wardens82%
5 shared skills
General and Operations Managers82%
5 shared skills
Marketing Managers82%
5 shared skills
Nurse Midwives82%
5 shared skills
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Coordination
- →Persuasion
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Active Listening
- ★Speaking
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Correctional Officers and Jailers
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Access
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Access
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Facebook
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (15)Documentation & Record-Keeping (3)Operations & Execution (1)Training & Development (1)Communication & Coordination (1)
1
Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Search for and recapture escapees.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
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.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution82% perform88%
8
Settle disputes between inmates.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Correctional Officers and Jailers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Correctional Officers and Jailers professionals typically have a RCS Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Correctional Officers and Jailers
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.42
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.31
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.22
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.19
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.17
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.17
Complete Work Styles Profile
Self-Control
4.4
Integrity
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.2
Attention to Detail
4.2
Dependability
4.2
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
Cooperation
4.2
Concern for Others
4.1
Leadership
4.1
Initiative
4.1
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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