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Career

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • 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 $77,970 Median per year · $37.49/hr Most earn $52,330–$127,780

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Supervise activities, such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
  • Instruct employees or provide on-the-job training.
  • Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.
  • Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings.
  • Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
  • Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 3,700 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 hospitals64.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals31.2%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service2.7%

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

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

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: 2 to 4 years

You usually can't start in this job straight out of school. Most people first work as a correctional officer for about 2 to 4 years, then move into a supervisor role. A high school diploma is typically enough to begin.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, which is the typical education for correctional officer work. Good grades and a clean record help when you apply for jobs in this field.

  2. Correctional Officer

    2-4 years

    Work in a jail or prison to keep people safe and secure, and learn facility rules, how to handle difficult situations, and how to lead by example. This hands-on experience is what supervisors are expected to have.

  3. First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers

    Ongoing

    Direct and coordinate the work of correctional officers and jailers, make schedules, train staff, and handle incidents on your shift.

Where it can lead

  1. Correctional Lieutenant

    Several years as a supervisor of experience first

    Take on wider responsibility over a larger area or shift, often including more staff, reports, and planning. Strong leadership records and training experience usually help you get promoted.

  2. Correctional Captain

    Several years in supervisory or lieutenant roles of experience first

    Oversee a major part of facility operations, such as security or daily management across several units. You'll need to show sound judgment and a track record of managing staff and policies.

  3. Warden

    Many years in corrections leadership of experience first

    Run an entire correctional facility, including budgets, policy, and overall staff leadership. This top role is reached after many years of moving up through the ranks.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and speech or communication classesStrong writing and speaking skills help you write incident reports and clearly explain instructions to others.
  • Take civics, psychology, or social studiesThese classes help you understand how the justice system works and how people behave under stress.
  • Join a leadership or team clubRoles like team captain, club officer, or student council help you practice leading and making decisions with others.
  • Get a part-time or summer job that involves responsibilityJobs in retail, food service, or lifeguarding teach you to follow rules, stay calm, and work with the public.
  • Volunteer with a community or youth organizationVolunteering shows reliability and gives you experience helping people and following safety procedures.

In college

  • Take criminal justice, sociology, or psychology coursesThese courses build knowledge of corrections, human behavior, and the justice system that supervisors use every day.
  • Look for an internship with a jail, prison, or probation officeHands-on experience shows employers you understand the work and can handle its demands.
  • Work a campus job that involves supervising othersRoles like resident assistant or lab or front-desk supervisor build the leadership experience supervisors need.
  • Join a criminal justice or public service student groupClubs give you networking opportunities and a chance to learn from people already in the field.
  • Ask about first aid or CPR training through your school or townMany correctional employers value first aid and crisis response skills, and these certifications are often available locally.

Tips for getting started

  • Get a clean background record and stay physically fit, since correctional officer hiring often includes background checks and physical or fitness tests.
  • Build leadership and communication skills now, such as through team sports, clubs, or part-time jobs where you help train or lead others.
  • Ask people who work in corrections or public safety about their daily work, and consider job shadowing if your school or community offers it.

Related jobs that often lead here

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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