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Correctional Officers and Jailers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,940 Median per year · $28.34/hr Most earn $42,760–$93,220

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
  • Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
  • Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
  • Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
  • Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
  • Search for and recapture escapees.

Job outlook

United States
7% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 28,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • State government, excluding education and hospitals51.7%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals40.4%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service3.8%
  • Facilities support services3.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and no prior work experience, and they learn the rest through agency training on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with solid reading, writing, and math skills, since officers write reports and follow written procedures every day.

  2. Correctional Officer training

    Weeks to a few months

    After you are hired, the correctional agency trains you on security rules, self-defense, and how to handle inmates safely before you work a post.

  3. Correctional Officer or Jailer

    Ongoing career

    You guard inmates in jails or prisons, keep order, do headcounts, and follow regulations and procedures every shift.

Where it can lead

  1. First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers

    2-4 years of experience first

    You lead a team of officers, schedule shifts, handle problems on the floor, and train new staff. Moving up usually means showing strong judgment and reliability over several years.

  2. Probation Officer

    1-2 years of experience first

    You work with people on probation or parole, helping them follow their rules and rebuild their lives instead of guarding them. This role usually requires a bachelor's degree, so plan on more schooling.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and math classes seriouslyStrong writing skills help you write clear incident reports, which is a big part of this job.
  • Take a health or physical education classStaying fit and learning about teamwork and safety supports the physical demands of the job.
  • Join a debate, speech, or leadership clubThese groups build the calm talking and decision-making skills that officers use every shift.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobWork in customer service, food service, or a store teaches you to stay patient and follow rules.
  • Volunteer with a youth mentoring or community programHelping others shows you can work with people in difficult situations, which employers look for.

In college

  • Take psychology, sociology, or criminal justice coursesThese classes help you understand human behavior and the justice system, which is useful for working with inmates.
  • Get a part-time job in security or supervisionA campus or security guard job gives you real experience following rules and staying alert.
  • Volunteer at a jail, reentry program, or community justice groupVolunteering shows you the work environment and can make your application stand out.
  • Join a student leadership or service organizationLeading a group builds the supervision skills needed if you want to move up later.
  • Stay physically active and prepare for fitness requirementsMany agencies test physical fitness, so regular exercise helps you pass during hiring and training.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep your record clean and stay physically fit, since agencies often check background history and require fitness tests before hiring.
  • Build communication and calm-under-pressure skills now, such as through a part-time job in customer service or retail, because officers rely on talking people down.
  • Ask a local jail or prison about job shadowing or a tour if they offer one, so you can see the daily work before you commit.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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