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
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.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Correctional officers and jailers work in a large national occupation, with about 388,000 workers across the country. The role is accessible to many people because the typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, combined with a broad mix of practical skills. Key strengths for this path include customer service, leadership, strong speaking and listening, and solid interpersonal abilities. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and being detail oriented are also important. The field calls for adaptability, problem solving and decision making, and even some project management capability. Nationally, the projected employment growth is -7.8%, but there are still an estimated 30,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing turnover and hiring activity. People interested in this path may also want to explore related options such as transit and railroad police, police and sheriff’s patrol officers, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, aircraft cargo handling supervisors, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists.
Correctional officers and jailers earn a national median annual salary of $57,970, with pay varying significantly by location. Several states stand out with higher median salaries, including California at $96,370, Massachusetts at $86,310, Washington at $79,460, New York at $76,820, and Colorado at $62,140. At the metro level, some areas show especially high pay. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $132,670, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $99,880. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ offers $93,220, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH reports $89,060, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV shows $70,570. These figures indicate that earnings can be substantially higher than the national median in certain states and metros, making location choice an important factor in overall earning potential for this career.
Nationally, correctional officers and jailers account for about 388,000 jobs. The projected employment growth rate is -7.8%, indicating a declining overall headcount over the projection period. However, the occupation is still expected to generate about 30,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that, even with shrinking total employment, there will be ongoing hiring driven by factors such as workforce turnover and replacement needs. The negative growth rate may influence long-term expansion of opportunities, but the relatively large base of existing employment means many positions continue to be available each year. People considering this field may want to think about how the projected decline in employment fits with their own timeline and career plans, while also recognizing that the size of the occupation and steady flow of openings can still provide entry and mobility options within the profession and related roles.
Location has a major impact on opportunity for correctional officers and jailers. Among states, California has the highest CareerGPS opportunity score at 67.38, with a median salary of $96,370 and employment of 37,860. Massachusetts (score 65.87, salary $86,310, employment 6,360) and New York (score 65.78, salary $76,820, employment 27,770) also rank highly. Washington (score 56.29, salary $79,460, employment 6,800) and Colorado (score 56.97, salary $62,140, employment 7,290) provide additional strong options. All of these states share the same projected growth rate of -7.8%, so differences in opportunity scores reflect other factors such as pay and employment level. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $132,670. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ has a similarly high score of 77.27 and salary of $93,220. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offer strong combinations of salary and opportunity score.
The typical education requirement for correctional officers and jailers is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this career accessible to individuals who do not plan to complete a four-year college degree. Because formal education requirements are relatively modest, skills play a central role in employability and advancement. Important abilities include customer service and interpersonal skills for working effectively with others, as well as strong speaking and listening to communicate clearly. Leadership, problem solving, and decision making are also highlighted, indicating the need to guide situations and respond thoughtfully. The role can be physically demanding, drawing on physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills, while being detail oriented supports accuracy and safety. Adaptability helps workers adjust to changing circumstances, and project management skills contribute to organizing tasks and responsibilities. Together, this combination of education and skills defines the core preparation profile for entering and growing in this occupation.
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