Juvenile Corrections / Detention Officer

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.

Education workers say the job requires

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.

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.

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

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Juvenile Corrections / Detention Officer in 8 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 8 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

1. Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.4.7
2. Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.4.6
3. 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
4. Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.4.5
5. Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.4.5
6. Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.4.5
7. Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.4.4
8. Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.4.4
9. Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.4.3
10. 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.