Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
- Social
Work Values
- Support
- Relationships
- Independence
Work Styles
- Self-Control
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Tasks
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- 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.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
Detailed Work Activities
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Presentation software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Document management software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
Skills
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Jail Officer CertificationCertifying Organization
National Sheriffs' Association
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Corrections Supervisor/JuvenileCertifying Organization
American Correctional Association
Type
Specialty
Certifying Organization
American Correctional Association
Type
Advanced
Certifying Organization
American Correctional Association
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Jail ExecutiveCertifying Organization
National Sheriffs' Association
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $47,198 |
| Median (50%) | $58,116 |
| High (90%) | $78,520 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $61,053 |
| Mid Level | $70,561 |
| Senior Level | $80,466 |
| Expert Level | $79,135 |
Employability
There are currently 370,900 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 346,000 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -7%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of -7%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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