Correctional officers enter a dangerous situation every day to earn their salaries.
Considered to be in one of the riskiest occupations for non-fatal on-the-job injuries by the U.S. Department of Labor, correctional officers put their lives on the line every day they enter the country's jail systems. Correctional officers interact with prisoners daily, transferring them within the jail, observing meals, keeping order during free time and performing cell searches. As the number of persons entering the prison population rises, so does the demand for correctional officers.
Behind Bars
In 2009, the country's 455,350 correctional officers earned salaries nationwide averaging $42,610, or $20.49 per hour, reports the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics in its 2009 Occupational Employment and Wages Report.
Locking it Down
Federal, state and local government were the highest per-capita employers of correctional officers in the country in 2009. The federal executive branch of the government paid the highest salaries, at $52,310, and was the fourth-highest per-capita employer. State government, the country's highest per-capita employer, was the second-highest payer with salaries of $43,710. Local government, the second-highest per-capita employer, was the third-highest payer with salaries of $41,370, falling under the national average, but still significantly higher than the next-highest-paying industry, facilities-support services, paying $31,870 and earning the spot as the third-highest per-capita employer in the profession.
Where to Work
Correctional officers working in California earned significantly higher-than-average salaries of $66,720. New Jersey also paid its correctional officers higher than the norm, at $62,350. In Nevada, correctional officers earned $56,600 while New York's correctional officers took in $53,600. Illinois placed fifth in the country for highest-paid correctional officers, with salaries of $51,530.
Get Corrected
Entry into the correctional officer profession depends on the level of service and area of work. In some cases, a minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required. The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires its correctional officers to have a bachelor's degree or three years' experience in the field. Two governing organizations, the American Jail Association and the American Correctional Association, provide guidelines some employers follow, including knowledge of firearms, first-aid, self-defense skills, and criminal, mental and physical exams.
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