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.
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than 5 years
None
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.
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First-line supervisors of correctional officers oversee teams that work in correctional settings, combining leadership responsibilities with direct involvement in daily operations. Nationally, this occupation employs about 57,000 people, indicating a sizable workforce. The role typically requires at least a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to candidates who can pair that credential with strong skill development. Key strengths for this career include leadership, problem solving and decision making, speaking and listening, and critical and analytical thinking. Physical strength and stamina, interpersonal skills, adaptability, and comfort with computers and information technology also play an important role. While national employment is projected to decline by 2.8%, there are still an estimated 4,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. For those interested in related paths, similar occupations include first-line supervisors of police and detectives, police and sheriff’s patrol officers, and other supervisory or protective service roles.
The national median annual salary for first-line supervisors of correctional officers is $76,310. Within this overall picture, there are notable differences by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $131,210, followed by Massachusetts at $105,930 and New York at $103,320. Washington and Colorado also offer median salaries of $98,910 and $81,460, respectively. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports a median salary of $121,600, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro reports $131,630. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim shows a median of $127,390, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Boston-Cambridge-Newton report $99,510 and $105,930. These figures indicate that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential within this occupation.
First-line supervisors of correctional officers have national employment of about 57,000 workers. Projected employment growth for this occupation is -2.8%, indicating a modest decline over the projection period. Despite this negative growth rate, there are an estimated 4,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that, even as total employment edges downward, there will continue to be opportunities due to turnover and other forms of job replacement. The projected -2.8% growth applies consistently across the highlighted top states and metro areas, so the overall trend is similar regardless of location. People considering this career should weigh the stable presence of annual openings against the expectation of slightly reduced overall employment levels in the future. For those who value supervisory roles in protective services, it can also be useful to keep similar occupations in mind as additional options within a related employment landscape.
Location plays an important role in the career landscape for first-line supervisors of correctional officers. Among states, California shows a high opportunity score of 67.38, with a median salary of $131,210 and employment of 4,550. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly by opportunity score, at 65.87 and 65.78, with median salaries of $105,930 and $103,320 and employment of 460 and 3,380, respectively. Washington and Colorado round out the top states, each with lower median salaries and employment than California and New York but still solid opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads with an opportunity score of 77.27, median salary of $121,600, and employment of 1,990. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also offer strong combinations of median pay and opportunity scores, though with smaller employment totals than the top New York metro.
The typical education level for first-line supervisors of correctional officers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This means the role is generally accessible without requiring a college degree, but success depends heavily on skill development. Leadership is central, since the position involves supervising others and coordinating activities. Strong speaking and listening skills, along with interpersonal abilities, support effective communication with staff and others. Problem solving and decision making, as well as critical and analytical thinking, are important for handling complex or urgent situations. Adaptability and physical strength and stamina are also key, reflecting the demands of working in correctional environments. Comfort with computers and information technology, along with basic project management skills, helps with planning, organizing, and tracking work. Together, this mix of education and skills defines a pathway focused more on capability and readiness than on advanced formal schooling.
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