Correctional Officers and Jailers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Correctional Officers and Jailers fall under the Protective Service category in the U.S. occupational classification. Correctional Officers and Jailers earn a median salary of $57,970 per year, ranking in the top 53% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -7.8% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do correctional officers and jailers earn?

The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers is $57,970. That puts correctional officers and jailers at #426 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is correctional officers and jailers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for correctional officers and jailers is -7.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 387K positions in 2024 to 357K in 2034, a net change of -30K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do correctional officers and jailers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working correctional officers and jailers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
2. 2.Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
3. 3.Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
4. 4.Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
5. 5.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.
6. 6.Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
7. 7.Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
8. 8.Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.

Top skills for correctional officers and jailers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become correctional officers and jailer?

Many correctional officers and jailers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
  $105,980 median
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators
  $93,580 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
  $92,430 median
• Transit and Railroad Police
  $82,320 median
• Fire Inspectors and Investigators
  $78,060 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
  $76,310 median

Common questions parents ask about correctional officers and jailers