Correctional Officers and Jailers
SOC code 33-3012 · O*NET-SOC 33-3012.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Legal and protective services
Correctional Officers and Jailers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$58,940
a year
Hourly
$28.34
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$63,630
$30.59 per hour
Middle 50%
$48,640 – $75,850
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$42,760 – $93,220
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
380,500
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $42,760
- $20.56/hr
- 25th percentile
- $48,640
- $23.38/hr
- Median percentile
- $58,940
- $28.34/hr
- 75th percentile
- $75,850
- $36.47/hr
- 90th percentile
- $93,220
- $44.82/hr
What do correctional officers and jailers do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Search for and recapture escapees.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 92% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)92%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree8%
Common questions
How much does a correctional officers and jailers earn?
The national median is $58,940 a year. The full range runs from $42,760 at the 10th percentile to $93,220 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a correctional officers and jailers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Reading Comprehension3.6/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.1/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Law and Government3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Psychology3.4/5
- Administrative3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Negotiation.