Correctional Officer: Job Overview and Training
Updated October 12, 2026
Featuring expert advice from Daniel Martuscello III, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Correctional officers supervise people in jails and prisons, and most agencies hire without requiring a four-year degree — a high school diploma or GED is the typical starting point. Age minimums, physical testing, and academy training vary by state, county, and employer, so check your target agency’s specifics. Expect rotating shifts and a job where you’re outnumbered by design.
Corrections is the side of the criminal justice system most people never see, and it’s one of several paths covered in our full guide to criminal justice careers. Daniel Martuscello III of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision puts it plainly: “Rehabilitation and successful reentry are goals of the department, and we attempt to return every offender to the community to be a successful and productive member of society.”
You’ll work inside a facility where you’re outnumbered by design, conducting counts, searching cells, and de-escalating conflicts before they turn physical. You don’t need a four-year degree to start, though some agencies, including the federal system, require one.
What Does a Correctional Officer Actually Do?
You’ll oversee people in custody, watch for contraband and rule violations, and write daily reports on facility conditions and inmate conduct. Staffing on a shift, solo, paired, or as part of a larger team, depends on the facility and its security level.
Whether you carry a weapon depends on your agency, facility, and specific post. Many institutional posts are unarmed, with officers carrying a radio instead for backup, while perimeter or transport assignments may be armed. You might escort inmates to work assignments or counseling sessions, or respond as part of a tactical team to a riot, hostage situation, or suicide attempt.
The job is demanding, but Martuscello describes something most outsiders miss: a “community inside the walls” built around a shared goal of rehabilitation. You’ll work alongside bailiffs, lawyers, social workers, nurses, and parole officers, all pointed at the same outcome.
Shift length varies by agency. Eight-, ten-, and twelve-hour shifts are all common, and because correctional institutions run 24/7, nights, weekends, and holidays are part of the job regardless of shift length. Paid overtime is common.
How to Become a Correctional Officer
There’s no single nationwide path. Hiring requirements vary by state, county, and individual employer, but BLS identifies a few building blocks that show up most often, along with real variation worth knowing before you apply.
Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level requirement, according to BLS. Some agencies ask for more.
Age: Minimum age requirements vary by agency, typically falling between 18 and 21, per BLS.
Background and Medical Screening: Expect some form of background investigation at most agencies, with specifics that differ by jurisdiction. Many agencies also screen for drug use during hiring, though policies and thresholds are set by the employer. A medical exam confirming you can physically handle the job is common as well.
Training: Correctional officers typically complete training at an academy, though length and structure vary by state. Academy instruction commonly covers self-defense, institutional policies, regulations, operations, and security procedures, according to BLS. Some states require officers to complete state certification, so check with your state’s corrections or public safety agency for what applies where you’re applying. Firearms training is assignment-specific, since many institutional posts are unarmed.
Physical Testing: Many agencies use some form of physical abilities test, but there’s no single national test or passing standard. The specific events and benchmarks are set by the agency.
The federal path looks different from most state and local hiring. The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have a bachelor’s degree or several years of qualifying experience in counseling, assistance, or supervision, screens candidates through the National Crime Information Center and a credit check, caps entry age at 36, and includes a medical exam confirming you can handle duties BOP describes as arduous. State and local agencies set their own standards for all of this, so the Bureau of Prisons process isn’t representative of hiring everywhere.
Earning a criminal justice B.A. isn’t required at most agencies, though it satisfies the Bureau of Prisons’ education requirement outright, and many of these programs are available online.
Traits of a Successful Correctional Officer
Physical Fitness: You’ll walk, run, climb, and sometimes restrain inmates. Staying in shape isn’t optional.
Calm Under Pressure: Emergencies and high-stress situations come with the job. You need to make the right call fast, not after you’ve had time to think it over.
Ability to Handle Confrontation: You’ll deal with people prone to anger and violence. Staying calm while keeping control of the situation is the skill that keeps you and everyone around you safe.
Interpersonal Skills: You’ll talk to inmates, fellow officers, lawyers, and bailiffs all day. Respectful, clear communication is a safety tool here, not a soft skill.
Self-Discipline: Facility rules exist for a reason, and sticking to them is what gets you considered for promotion down the line.
Observation: Much of the job is watching, patiently and for long stretches, for the small signs that something’s about to go wrong.
Computer Savvy: Reports, facility systems, and inmate monitoring all run through a computer now. Basic comfort with that technology matters more than it used to.
“It can be a very rewarding career to see an offender go from intake to release, or into community supervision, with a GED or a college degree in hand and the skills to become a successful member of society,” Martuscello says. He’s also clear that the job is stressful and demanding, and notes that in his experience, applicants with military backgrounds often have an edge in the hiring process.
Salary and Career Outlook for Correctional Officers
Your pay depends heavily on who you work for. According to the May 2025 BLS wage data, federal correctional officers earn a median of $74,630 a year, well above the $59,990 median at the state level and $58,500 at the local level — officers working for facilities support services contractors earn the least, at $46,910.
Nationally, the median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers is $58,940, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10% earn under $42,760; the top 10% clear $93,220.
The outlook is less encouraging. BLS projects employment will decline 7% from 2025 to 2035, a drop of about 29,500 jobs nationally. BLS attributes the decline to shifts in criminal justice policy: states moving toward shorter sentences, alternatives to incarceration, and community-based rehabilitation programs that have reduced prison populations. Even with that decline, BLS still expects roughly 30,000 openings a year on average, nearly all from the need to replace officers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force entirely, whether through retirement or otherwise.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Correctional Officers and Jailers. National job growth projections for 2025–2035 are from the same source, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Figures reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.
Resources for Correctional Officers
These organizations offer training, employment information, and networking for people already in the field or looking to get in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a correctional officer?
A correctional officer supervises people who are in jail awaiting trial or serving a sentence in jail or prison. The job covers security, conduct reports, and often a hand in rehabilitation programs aimed at successful reentry.
How long does it take to become a correctional officer?
It varies significantly by agency. Background investigations, academy scheduling, and jurisdiction-specific steps can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Check with the specific agency you’re applying to for an accurate timeline.
Do you need a degree to become a correctional officer?
No, not at most agencies. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry requirement. Some employers, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience instead, so check the specific agency’s posting for its exact requirement.
Is being a correctional officer dangerous?
It carries real risk. BLS reports that correctional officers and jailers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, largely from confrontations with people in custody. Academy training and on-the-job experience are built around managing that risk.
What’s the difference between a correctional officer and a prison guard?
“Prison guard” is an older, informal term for the same kind of work. “Correctional officer” is the term BLS and most modern agencies use, though exact titles and duties can still vary by facility and jurisdiction.
Key Takeaways
- Requirements vary by agency – there’s no single nationwide checklist; age minimums, education, physical testing, and training all differ by state, county, and employer.
- BLS identifies common building blocks – a high school diploma, a background check, and academy training show up most often, but specifics differ everywhere.
- Federal hiring runs separately – the Bureau of Prisons sets its own education, age (max 36), and screening standards, apart from state and local agencies.
- Pay varies sharply by employer – the May 2025 BLS national median is $58,940, but federal officers earn $74,630 versus $46,910 for contractors.
- The field is shrinking – BLS projects a 7% decline in jobs through 2035, tied to sentencing-law changes, even as roughly 30,000 openings a year continue from turnover.
Curious how the job differs by facility type? Our guide to private prisons vs. public prisons breaks down how pay, staffing, and working conditions compare.