The U.S. prison system is constantly changing. Local jails admit and process about 13 million people a year, with 800,000 people incarcerated at any given time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. State and Federal prisons watch over another 1.6 million people at any given time.

Correctional officers — sometimes called jailers or detention officers — are crucial to operate the system. They help make sure inmates follow the rules and supervise their work assignments. In the rehabilitation process of people sent to jails and prisons, correctional officers are on the front lines.

It’s an in-demand job and, while not for everyone, can be rewarding for some.

Median Wages

• $ 18.78 hourly
• $ 39,050 annually

Things to Consider

• Do you have strong self-control, even in stressful environments?
• Are you willing to guide yourself with little supervision and take on new responsibilities and challenges?
• Do you work well with people — especially people who may be unpleasant to work with?
• Would you consider yourself honest and ethical?
• Can you defend yourself while unarmed?

Career Growth

The demand for correctional officers is supposed to grow at an average (7 to 13 percent) pace between 2008 and 2018, with a projected 143,600 job openings during those ten years. The job has earned a Bright Outlook designation from O*Net Online.

Typical Work Activities

• Conduct head counts and ensure that each inmate is where they should be.
• Monitor inmates in their housing unit, or during work and recreational periods.
• Inspect the facility to make sure it’s safe and secure.
• Inspect mail and screen visitors to be sure no contraband is entering the building.
• Process new inmates, keep and maintain records.
• Follow rules and regulations.

Work Environment and Hours

Being a correctional officer is a dangerous and stressful job. The career has one of the highest rates of nonfatal workplace injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is especially true in jails, where inmates come-and-go more frequently.

Officers may work indoors or outdoors, depending on the facility. While some newer facilities may be air-conditioned and well-lit, other facilities are overcrowded, hot, noisy and stressful. Because officers have to be on-duty around-the-clock, you will have to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Paid overtime is a possibility, as well.

How Do I Become a Correctional Officer?

Facilities at every level — municipal, county, state or federal — require officers to be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have no felony convictions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At least two years work experience, to show stability, is also required in some areas.

Experience with law enforcement or the military is sometimes preferred, but can be substituted with training and college coursework. Many institutions will hire officers with a high school diploma or equivalent, but the Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level officers to have at least a bachelor’s degree, three years full-time experience or a combination of the two.

For more information about becoming a correctional officer visit the related articles on O*NET OnLine and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook our source for this article.

Previous Career Profiles