To become a correctional officer, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, must meet your agency's minimum age (usually somewhere between 18 and 21), and then complete training at a corrections academy before you're assigned to a facility. Federal prisons ask for more: a bachelor's degree or several years of experience in counseling, assistance or supervision.
Correctional officers oversee people who've been arrested, are awaiting trial or are serving a sentence in a jail or prison. It's one of the most accessible public safety careers, but the entry rules change a lot depending on whether you work for a county, a state or the federal government. Here's the route from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) handbook, read on 26 October 2026.
The job at a glance
| Fact | BLS figure (May 2025 data) |
|---|---|
| Median pay, correctional officers and jailers | $58,940 a year, as of October 2026 |
| Entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training | A training academy, then shadowing experienced officers |
| Jobs | About 397,800 |
| Biggest employer | State government, 52% of jobs |
| Openings each year | About 30,000, even with employment projected to fall 7% |
Step by step
- Check the age rule for the agency you want. Many set a minimum between 18 and 21, and federal agencies may also set a maximum entry age.
- Finish high school or get your equivalent. That's the baseline for state and local jobs.
- Decide whether you're aiming federal. The Federal Bureau of Prisons wants a bachelor's degree or several years of relevant experience.
- Apply and meet the agency's own rules. BLS says qualifications vary by state and agency, so read each job posting closely.
- Complete the academy. Training covers self-defense, institutional policies, regulations, operations and security procedures.
- Shadow experienced officers. Many new officers work alongside a veteran before they're on their own.
- Get state certification if required. Some states require it, so check with your state's corrections or public safety agency.
The insight most people miss: who you work for changes the pay
BLS breaks correctional officer pay down by employer, and the gap is wide. As of October 2026:
| Employer | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Federal government | $74,630 |
| State government | $59,990 |
| Local government | $58,500 |
| Facilities support services | $46,910 |
Federal jobs pay the most, but they're the hardest to get, with the degree or experience requirement and possible age cap. State jobs employ 52% of officers and sit close to the overall median. The lowest 10% of all correctional officers and jailers earned less than $42,760 and the top 10% more than $93,220.
Why openings keep coming in a shrinking field
BLS projects correctional officer and bailiff employment to fall 7% from 2025 to 2035, partly because many states have moved toward shorter prison terms and alternatives to prison. Yet it still expects about 30,000 openings a year, all from people leaving or retiring. In practice, that means agencies keep hiring, but you shouldn't expect the field itself to grow.
What the job demands
- Decision-making: you'll judge situations quickly and act on them
- Interpersonal skills: you'll deal with people in custody, visitors and other officers all day
- Negotiating skills: you'll help resolve conflict to keep everyone safe
- Physical strength: you may need to physically restrain people
- Self-discipline: you have to control your emotions in hostile situations
BLS is frank about the risks. Correctional officers and jailers can be injured in confrontations, giving them one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Because prisons need cover around the clock, you'll work shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays, and you may stand for long periods while staying alert the whole time.
Where the career can go
Correctional officers can move up to sergeant, lieutenant or captain, or into specialized units such as a gang task force or hostage negotiation. BLS groups bailiffs with correctional officers. Bailiffs generally work in courtrooms, and 64% of them work for local government, so it's a related option if you'd rather work in a court than a prison.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Check the minimum and any maximum age for the exact agency you're applying to
- Read whether your state requires its own certification, and who runs it
- Get physically fit before the academy, because you may need to restrain people
- Be ready for nights, weekends and holidays from your first year
- If you're aiming federal, line up your degree or your counseling, assistance or supervision experience
Correctional officers may work indoors and outdoors at the same facility, for example patrolling inside and supervising people outside. They may wear safety gear such as gloves and helmets. Ask about the facility's security level when you interview, because daily life on a minimum security unit differs from a maximum security one.
My verdict
If you want a public safety career without a degree, a state or county corrections job is a realistic way in, and agencies keep hiring. Go in with your eyes open about the injury risk and the shift pattern. If federal pay appeals, plan for the degree or experience requirement early. For other investigative paths, compare becoming a detective, and use these interview preparation prompts before your panel.
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Frequently asked questions
Is being a correctional officer dangerous?
It can be. BLS says correctional officers and jailers may be injured in confrontations, giving them one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Do you need a degree to be a correctional officer?
Not for most state and local jobs, which typically need a high school diploma. The Federal Bureau of Prisons asks for a bachelor's degree or several years of relevant experience.
How old do you have to be to be a correctional officer?
BLS says many agencies set a minimum age between 18 and 21, and federal agencies may have a maximum entry age.
How much do correctional officers make?
As of October 2026, BLS reports a median of $58,940 a year for correctional officers and jailers, from May 2025 data. Federal officers have a median of $74,630.
Is correctional officer a growing job?
No. BLS projects a 7% decline from 2025 to 2035, but about 30,000 openings a year because people leave or retire.
What do you learn at the corrections academy?
Self-defense, institutional policies, regulations, operations and security procedures, before shadowing experienced officers.
Can correctional officers get promoted?
Yes. They can move up to sergeant, lieutenant or captain, or into units such as a gang task force or hostage negotiation.
