JobPOVs
Explore

State & county facilities

Correctional Officer

Supervising people who do not want to be supervised.

Typical pay

$40k-$80k

How you get in

Academy, 4-16 weeks, paid

Outlook

Persistent shortages; hiring almost everywhere

Correctional officers maintain security and order inside jails and prisons. It is a stable government job with a pension, and a genuinely difficult environment that takes a measurable toll.

A day in the life

  1. 5:45aBriefing and equipment check
  2. 6:30aCount — everything stops until the numbers match
  3. 8:00aEscort movements to programs and medical
  4. 11:00aCell searches and contraband checks
  5. 1:00pIncident report writing
  6. 3:00pCount again, then hand off to the next shift

How to get in

State or county academy

Duration

4-16 weeks

Cost

$0 — you are paid as a cadet

Credential

State corrections certification

  1. Apply to a state department of corrections or county jail
  2. Pass the background check, physical and psychological screening
  3. Complete the paid academy
  4. Finish on-the-job training with a senior officer

Federal Bureau of Prisons

Duration

3-6 months

Cost

$0 — paid

Credential

Federal corrections officer certification

  1. Apply through USAJOBS — the process is slower and more competitive
  2. Meet the age and education or experience requirements
  3. Complete training at Glynco
  4. Better pay and benefits than most state systems

Corrections as a stepping stone

Duration

2-5 years

Cost

$0

Credential

Corrections certification, then police academy

  1. Work as a correctional officer and build a clean record
  2. Use the government service time and experience
  3. Test for police, probation or parole positions
  4. Many departments weight corrections experience heavily

What people love

  • · Pension and benefits without a degree
  • · Hired quickly amid widespread shortages
  • · Overtime is essentially unlimited
  • · Path to probation, parole and law enforcement

What wears people down

  • · Genuinely dangerous environment
  • · Mandatory overtime is common and exhausting
  • · Serious mental health toll — high rates of PTSD
  • · Shift work including nights and holidays

From people doing it

Add yours