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Correctional Officers and Jailers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$57,970	29100	-6.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$57,970

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

29100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

-6.7%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Count prison inmates or personnel.
Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
Record information about suspects or criminals.
Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
Search individuals for illegal or dangerous items.
Record information about suspects or criminals.
Attend training to learn new skills or update knowledge.
Serve food or beverages.
Give medications or immunizations.
Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.
Counsel clients regarding interpersonal issues.
Operate computers or computerized equipment.
Operate computer systems.
Guard facilities.
Apprehend criminal suspects.
Inspect cargo to identify potential hazards.
Escort prisoners to courtrooms, prisons, or other facilities.
Use weapons or physical force to maintain security.
Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with fire regulations.
Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
Inspect facilities for cleanliness.
Discuss performance, complaints, or violations with supervisors.
Resolve interpersonal conflicts.
Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.
Prepare activity or work schedules.
Supervise inmate activities.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Investigate crimes committed within organizations.
Record information about suspects or criminals.
Direct operations of correctional facilities.
Supervise inmate activities.
Collect information about clients.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
Participate in required job training.
Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
Settle disputes between inmates.
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.
Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
Search for and recapture escapees.
Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
Take fingerprints of arrestees, prisoners, or the general public.
Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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