If a career in law enforcement and security sounds interesting to you, the field of corrections officers is in high demand. The job offers stability and an above-average starting salary with extensive government benefits. The position of corrections officers can be dangerous and often stressful, but for those up to the challenge, the career is a rewarding one, and one that is highly respected.
Starting Salary and Beyond
Incomes vary slightly depending on area and types of institutions. The average starting salary for a first-year corrections officer is usually at least $14.45 per hour or $30,056 for full-time work. Those who have at least 1 year of job experience can make around $15.58 an hour or at least $32,406 each year. Those corrections officers who have 5 or more years of experience can expect to earn around $18.71 an hour or at least $38,916 annually. For those corrections officers who have at least 10 years of experience, the median wage is $21.30 an hour or $44,304 each year, and those who have been on the job 20 years or more are topping out at $28.26 each hour, making nearly $59,000 a year. Overtime and differential pay could also add up to additional income.
Geography and Salary
Geographic regions tend to play a big role in the salary of a corrections officer. While corrections officers in Orlando average $16.68 an hour, those same professionals in New York are pulling in an income of $30 an hour. One of the lowest averages nationwide is in Dallas where corrections officers average a median hourly wage of only $13 an hour--a far cry from their fellow corrections officers in Las Vegas where the hourly wage averages around $28.84.
Training
All employers require that corrections officers have at least a high school diploma or GED. In some states, on-the-job training may be provided, but in other cases, such as working with the federal government, a bachelor's degree is usually required. Depending on the state, prior law enforcement or military experience may be substituted for higher education. Some states may also have regional training academies specifically for the training of their corrections officers.
Pay According to Education
In the majority of circumstances, education levels seem to play no major role in the salary ranges of corrections officers. An average median income in the United States for corrections officers holding a degree in criminal justice is $16.53 per hour, while their counterparts holding only a high school diploma are averaging around $16.16 per hour. One area where education clearly makes a difference in salary is in corrections officer positions within the federal government, where starting salaries can often start at about $21.81 an hour.
Job Opportunities and Outlook
Local jails in the United States take in approximately 12 million new offenders each year. At any given time, there are at least 700,000 inmates in the state jail systems. Unfortunately, crime in this country is showing no signs of slowing down, and because of this, the field of corrections officers is expected to grow more than average, about 16 percent, through the year 2006. New sentencing laws and a reduction in the number of parolees released will be the primary reasons for an additional need for corrections officers.
