GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
$67K/yr
Average Salary
Varies
Years of Education
-7%
Job Growth
388K+
Total Jobs
Oversee individuals who have been arrested or sentenced to serve time in jail or prison.
$42K
Starting
$67K
Average
$93K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
High School Diploma in Corrections
Duration varies by program
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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You can enter this career through a government civil service exam — often with no college degree required.
Civil service exams follow set filing windows — check the deadline and apply on time.
Field
Law & Criminal Justice
Required Degree
High School Diploma
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
-7%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Correctional Officer
Pay range
$42K–$93K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
-7%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
388K
in 2024
Decline
Demand expected to decrease. Projected to shrink from 388K to 360K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
BLS 'Correctional Officers and Jailers' (33-3012). Median $57,970. -7% decline.