Correctional Officer Salary
$40,580
Job Growth
2/5
Competition
Very low
Education
High School
Overview: What does a Correctional Officer do?
Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a jail. They maintain security and inmate accountability to prevent disturbances or escapes. Officers have no law enforcement responsibilities outside the institution where they work. Most correctional officers work in institutions located in rural areas with smaller inmate populations than those in urban jails. The work can be stressful and hazardous.
Resources to become a Correctional Officer
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| Advancement Opportunities: 73% of Average This calculation shows your opportunity for increases in earnings over time. It shows the relative strength of different careers as compared to each other |
| Average Starting Median income: $40,580 |
| Return on Educational Investment: 66% of Average Shows the relative return on investment of an education beyond high school. The calculation uses potential earning levels over time adjusted for the cost and the time of additional education. |
| Job Growth: 2/5 |
| Benefits: Yes |
| All scores range from 1-100. Higher scores are better with the exception of stress. |
| Bragging rights: 5/100 Based on prestige and social approval, fame and public recognition, high income, highly educated, clean versus “dirty” industry, and level of people you deal with. |
| Interesting Job: 3/100 Based on exciting subject or environment, variety of activities, fun interaction with people, creating versus completing, and learning interesting things. |
| Personal Freedom: 0/100 Based on controlling your work, not closely managed, choosing your assignments, tolerable rules and regulations, creative freedom, and setting your own hours. |
| Stress: 18/100 Based on Intense responsibility (life/death), continuous rejection, dealing with people’s problems, lack of control, quota or sales pressure, and work volume/time pressure. |
| Years to make $1,000,000 - 26 Years |
| Years to make $2,000,000 - 42 Years |
| Years to make $3,000,000 - 45+ Years |
