Federal Correctional Officer (BOP)

Overview

Sourced

Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

O*NET definition of Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

363,330

in government (SOC 33-3012)

95%

of this occupation works for government

$59,490

median pay in government

Federal

levels of government

Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 33-3012, including Correctional Officer (state prison), Detention Officer (county jail), Juvenile Corrections / Detention Officer.

Titles employers use

Correctional OfficerCorrections Officer (CO)Detention OfficerJailerBooking OfficerCommunity Services Officer (CSO)Deputy JailerDetention DeputyJail OfficerJailor

How people usually get in Editorial

BOP application + FLETC Glynco. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 33-3012)

Education needed to enter: High school diploma or equivalent
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

High School Diploma or the equivalent

92%

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

Share of surveyed workers in Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) naming each level as required to be hired, 25 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

Correctional officers and bailiffs typically need a high school diploma to enter their occupation. They typically go to a training academy and then are assigned to a facility, where they receive on-the-job training. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, many agencies have an age requirement for correctional officers. Some federal agencies also require officers to have a bachelor's degree or related work experience.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Correctional Officers and Bailiffs”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 33-3012: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS/GL-5/7/9 entry (Pathways / recent grad; some law-enforcement jobs start higher, e.g. FBI special agents at GL-10)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: law-enforcement special base rates (GS-3–10); LEAP 25% premium for criminal investigators only

Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$74,630

State

$59,990

Local

$58,500

All government

$59,490

Private sector

$48,020

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	14,180	$56,890	$66,390	$74,630	$81,270	$87,190
State	191,980	$46,120	$50,390	$59,990	$77,460	$98,730
Local	157,170	$37,910	$46,830	$58,500	$74,540	$93,220
All government	363,330	$43,160	$48,960	$59,490	$76,370	$93,590
Private sector	17,160	$37,420	$43,320	$48,020	$57,280	$65,110

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

88%

Irregular

12%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

52%

More than 40 hours

43%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.4.7
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.4.6
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.4.6
Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.4.5
Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.4.5
Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.4.5
Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.4.4
Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.4.4
Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.4.3
Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.4.3

The 10 most important of 21 core tasks for Correctional Officers and Jailers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

Exams and free practice tests

Sourced

Exam	Administered by	Used in	Type	Official page
Federal Bureau of Prisons Physical Abilities Test (PAT) Taken during Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phase II at FLETC Glynco, GA; includes an obstacle course within 58 seconds, a 75-lb dummy drag of at least 694 feet in 3 minutes, a ladder climb within 7 seconds, a quarter-mile run and handcuffing within 2:35, and 108 steps with a 20-lb weight belt within 45 seconds.	Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)	Federal Bureau of Prisons	physical	Official page

Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.

Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests

Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Exam
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
California	37,860	$63,380	$96,370	$114,730
New Jersey	7,570	$51,410	$94,770	$106,570
Massachusetts	6,360	$63,520	$86,310	$101,620
Oregon	3,650	$64,200	$83,690	$95,820
Washington	6,800	$64,460	$79,460	$95,430
Illinois	12,190	$50,520	$79,190	$102,770
New York	27,770	$58,940	$76,820	$93,220
Nevada	3,240	$62,150	$76,490	$102,610
Wisconsin	7,360	$56,540	$73,470	$92,140
Alaska	850	$60,340	$71,360	$94,930
Hawaii	1,310	$64,250	$69,570	$82,240
Utah	2,050	$47,700	$67,290	$84,680
Minnesota	5,350	$54,060	$66,040	$82,380
Delaware	1,730	$46,520	$65,880	$79,260
Connecticut	3,780	$55,520	$64,750	$70,710
Maryland	6,060	$53,100	$64,250	$82,280
Michigan	8,220	$47,360	$64,020	$77,990
Pennsylvania	15,560	$46,840	$63,460	$85,630
Nebraska	3,250	$47,630	$63,380	$78,270
Colorado	7,290	$52,370	$62,140	$87,690
New Hampshire	680	$47,480	$61,360	$82,240
Ohio	12,610	$46,930	$59,370	$68,060
Kansas	3,380	$37,000	$56,120	$64,940
Arizona	14,230	$45,620	$54,970	$65,030
Wyoming	920	$50,340	$54,780	$71,010
Vermont	450	$46,010	$53,810	$71,660
Idaho	2,370	$45,430	$53,580	$74,720
Iowa	3,440	$47,670	$53,040	$73,530
South Dakota	1,490	$43,240	$53,040	$66,390
West Virginia	2,980	$45,390	$52,890	$75,610
Maine	1,090	$44,640	$52,730	$60,510
Texas	44,700	$44,870	$52,670	$60,550
North Dakota	1,290	$47,580	$52,460	$62,870
Tennessee	6,990	$38,690	$50,940	$62,790
North Carolina	11,900	$38,850	$50,550	$63,150
Virginia	11,270	$46,320	$50,140	$70,570
Florida	24,280	$45,760	$49,710	$80,500
Montana	1,430	$44,690	$49,180	$62,730
Indiana	8,060	$41,670	$48,340	$61,840
New Mexico	2,740	$37,900	$47,940	$59,330
South Carolina	4,870	$40,090	$47,890	$71,390
Georgia	10,640	$36,820	$47,520	$58,430
Alabama	4,970	$30,430	$46,660	$74,290
Oklahoma	3,730	$34,530	$45,690	$58,380
Missouri	6,670	$37,210	$42,620	$63,940
Kentucky	6,770	$29,910	$42,310	$61,820
Arkansas	4,460	$31,200	$40,330	$49,360
Louisiana	7,960	$30,770	$39,850	$55,260
Mississippi	4,040	$27,540	$38,720	$55,580

49 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
Every public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules
Not yet collected

Federal Correctional Officer (BOP)

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

Exams and free practice tests

Free practice tests

By state

Not yet collected