Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists support individuals involved in the justice system while working within structured public-service environments. This career combines interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and detailed documentation, making it appealing to people who like working closely with others and handling complex information. National employment stands at 92,000, with a projected growth rate of 2.6% and about 8,000 openings each year, indicating a steady flow of opportunities for new and experienced professionals. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education level, so it is accessible to many college graduates interested in justice, social services, or community-focused work. Strong skills in customer service, adaptability, problem solving and decision making, and interpersonal communication are central to success in this field. Professionals in this role also rely on computers and information technology, project management, speaking and listening, writing and reading, and critical and analytical thinking to meet the job’s demands. Overall, the career offers a mix of human-centered work and structured processes for those interested in this path.
The national median annual salary for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is $64,520, providing a solid earnings base across the country. Pay varies by location, with some states and metro areas offering significantly higher median salaries. Among states, California stands out at $103,640, followed by Massachusetts at $94,590 and New York at $80,350. Colorado and Washington also offer median salaries of $71,680 and $82,750, respectively. At the metro level, some areas report notably high median pay, such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $144,410 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $135,890. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area reports $98,100, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is at $79,370 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $73,610. These figures show that salary potential can change significantly depending on where you work.
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists have national employment of 92,000, indicating a substantial existing workforce. Projected employment growth of 2.6% suggests a modest increase in jobs over time. In addition, there are about 8,000 annual openings in this occupation. These openings can reflect new positions as well as the need to fill roles when workers move to other jobs or retire. Together, the employment level, projected growth, and annual openings point to ongoing demand for professionals in this field. Individuals considering this career can use these numbers to gauge the scale of the profession and the likelihood of encountering job opportunities over time. For those exploring alternatives with some overlap in public service or client-facing work, related options include public safety telecommunicators, social and human service assistants, first-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers (except gambling services), first-line supervisors of personal service workers, and human resources specialists.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists. Among states, California leads by opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $103,640 and employment of 13,900. Massachusetts follows with an opportunity score of 65.87, median salary $94,590, and employment of 1,200. New York has an opportunity score of 65.78, median salary $80,350, and employment of 4,360. Colorado and Washington both offer opportunity scores above 56, with median salaries of $71,680 and $82,750 and employment of 2,540 and 2,150, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and a median salary of $144,410. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area follows closely with a 77.27 opportunity score. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving candidates varied geographic options to consider.
The typical education level for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is a bachelor’s degree. This requirement makes the field accessible to many students and career changers who complete four-year college programs. Beyond formal education, the role depends heavily on a specific mix of skills. Customer service and interpersonal abilities are important for working effectively with people. Adaptability, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking support sound judgment in complex situations. Being detail oriented, along with strong writing and reading skills, helps with accurate documentation and careful review of information. The job also relies on computers and information technology, reflecting the need to use digital tools and systems in everyday work. Project management skills contribute to organizing tasks and managing cases or workflows, while speaking and listening skills support clear, two-way communication. Together, the bachelor’s degree and this skill set form the core preparation for success in this career.
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