Correctional Officers and Jailers

Overview

Correctional Officers and Jailers has a national median salary of $58,940 per year, with -7.4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Support
• Relationships
• Independence

Work Styles

Responsibilities

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.

Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Getting Information
• Training and Teaching Others
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Detailed Work Activities

• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Correctional Officers and Jailers:

Video Resources