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Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

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 $66,270 Median per year · $31.86/hr Most earn $46,840–$107,790

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Participate in decisions about whether cases should go before courts and which court should hear them.
  • Develop liaisons and networks with other parole officers, community agencies, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, and aftercare agencies to plan for helping offenders with life adjustments.
  • Identify and approve work placements for offenders with community service sentences.
  • Inform offenders or inmates of requirements of conditional release, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.
  • Arrange for postrelease services, such as employment, housing, counseling, education, and social activities.
  • Recommend appropriate penitentiary for initial placement of an offender.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 7,900 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 hospitals51.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals45.8%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Probation officer is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend roughly 1 to 2 years in a related role before moving into this career.

  1. Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or social work

    4 years

    You learn how the justice system works, how people change their behavior, and how to write clear reports, which are core skills for this job.

  2. Correctional Officer

    1-2 years

    Working in a jail, prison, or community corrections setting gives you hands-on experience with people in the justice system and shows agencies you can handle the work.

  3. Probation Officer

    Ongoing career

    You supervise people on probation or parole, create rehabilitation plans, recommend conditions of release, and connect clients with jobs, education, and treatment.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Probation Officer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex cases, train newer officers, and often handle higher-risk clients, which requires strong judgment and a solid record in the role.

  2. Probation Supervisor

    3-5 years as a probation officer of experience first

    You manage a team of probation officers, review their case decisions, and handle staffing and program planning, which requires leadership and management skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, sociology, or government classesThese courses build your understanding of human behavior and the justice system, which will help you in a college major in this field.
  • Join debate, Mock Trial, or Model UNThese clubs help you practice explaining ideas clearly, thinking on your feet, and understanding laws and courts.
  • Volunteer with a youth mentoring or community service groupWorking with young people or people who need support helps you learn how to build trust and listen well, which are key skills for probation work.
  • Get a part-time job that involves customer service or teamworkJobs like retail, food service, or camp counseling teach you responsibility, communication, and how to stay calm under pressure.
  • Improve your writingWriting clear essays and reports now prepares you for the detailed case notes and reports you will write as a probation officer.

In college

  • Choose a major in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or social workMost probation officer jobs expect a bachelor's degree, and these majors cover the justice system, human behavior, and social services.
  • Look for an internship with a court, probation office, or legal aid groupHands-on experience shows you what the job really involves and gives you a reference and useful skills for applying to jobs.
  • Take a job on campus in counseling, advising, or residence lifeThese roles teach you how to support people with real problems, document what happens, and follow policies.
  • Volunteer for a crisis line, reentry program, or substance use support groupHelping people who are going through hard times builds empathy and shows employers you understand the populations you would work with.
  • Learn a second language, such as SpanishMany probation clients speak languages other than English, so bilingual skills can make you a stronger candidate in many areas.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a probation office or local court if you can shadow an officer or volunteer, so you can see the daily work before you commit to a degree.
  • Build strong writing and speaking skills now, since you will write case reports and speak in court and with clients. Your results page also shows typical pay near you and nationally, so you can check that when you're ready.
  • Look for jobs or volunteer roles where you work with people in difficult situations, such as a youth program, a shelter, or a tutoring program, and keep notes on what you learned.

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

  • Social Work Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $41,468 a year · typical debt $21,500

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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