Correctional Officer
Correctional Officer Job Description
A correctional officer is responsible for watching over individuals that have been arrested and are waiting for their trial or for watching over individuals that have been convicted of their crimes. This is dependent on the field that the correctional officer chooses to get into. They will assure that they maintain the security of the inmates and will also work to prevent issues, such as assaults amongst the inmates as well. The correctional officers will ensure that all rules and regulations are followed and will report any types of infractions. They will monitor the activities of the inmates and also move them from area to area as needed. Such is the case in a maximum security type of setting where inmates need to be handcuffed and moved from their cells to the showers or for recreation time.
Correctional Officer Salary Statistics as of 2015
Average annual salary for a Correctional Officer is $34325 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $58865. The lowest salary reported was $24440. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.
Median hourly wage for a Correctional Officer is $13.535 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $18.24. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $8.83. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.
Bonuses for a Correctional Officer are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with under 1 year of experience.
These are the highest paying states for a Correctional Officer. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
California – $32,438 – $79,234
Florida – $23,708 – $44,126
Georgia – $23,513 – $38,009
Illinois – $38,278 – $64,546
New York – $33,192 – $74,785
North Carolina – $22,515 – $37,356
Texas – $23,821 – $41,875
These are the highest paying cities for a Correctional Officer. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
Huntsville, Texas –
Los Angeles, California –
Baltimore, Maryland –
Beaumont, Texas –
Nashville, Tennessee –
New York, New York –
Gatesville, Texas –
This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Correctional Officer from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $34325 while in 2007 it was just $31832.4
Requirements
In order to become a correctional officer, there are some training and requirements that need to be met. A high school diploma or GED is required in order to begin the training courses. Some prisons will also require some college credits as well. This is dependent on the agency that you would like to get into, such as federal, state, or local corrections agencies. Correctional officers must also be at least 18 to 21 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. They also must not have any felony convictions. Correctional officers must also be in good health. They will be required to go through a series of tests to ensure they meet the standards of eyesight, physical fitness, and hearing.
Training
Correctional officers will go through a training academy that is more specific to the training that they will need to perform the job. This will include the various laws that they will need to know, policies, and regulations. Once they have successfully completed the training academy, they will be placed in a facility that will most suit the area they are going into. It is through on the job training, that they will learn how to handle situations and begin to gain some experience.
Job Outlook
The job demand for correctional officers is said to be favorable. There is a rising demand for correctional officers and there is also the need to replace officers that are retiring and leaving their positions for various reasons. Employment for correctional officers is expected to grow by approximately 9 percent from 2008 to 2018. This is in part due to changes in sentencing guidelines for certain crimes, reductions in the amount of people being paroled, and also due to the rising population and number of incarcerations.
Gender Statistics |
Related Jobs |
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71%
29%
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Based on our stats gathered across the U.S. 71% of Correctional Officers were males while 29% were females. These numbers are based on averages across all states combined. Some individual states may have a much different ratio however.
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Past Jobs Correctional Officer / Jailer |
Future Jobs Correctional Officer / Jailer |
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