Law & Government
Correctional Officers and Jailers
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.
Median salary
$57,970
Typical range
$42k – $93k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Correctional Officers and Jailers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Correctional Officers and Jailers
Entry / Junior
$41,750
~2 yrs to advance
Correctional Officers and Jailers
Established
$57,970
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Correctional Officers and Jailers
Senior
$75,485
Key skills
A typical 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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.