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CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND JAILERS: PENNSYLVANIA
Occupation Description
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institution in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Include deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
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State and National Wages
| Location |
Pay
Period |
2008 |
| 10% |
25% |
Median |
75% |
90% |
| United States |
Hourly |
$12.16 |
$14.26 |
$18.45 |
$24.52 |
$30.82 |
| Yearly |
$25,300 |
$29,700 |
$38,400 |
$51,000 |
$64,100 |
| Pennsylvania |
Hourly |
$14.51 |
$17.05 |
$20.00 |
$25.75 |
$29.54 |
| Yearly |
$30,200 |
$35,500 |
$41,600 |
$53,600 |
$61,400 |
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
- High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
- Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
- Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.
Occupation Wages FAQs
Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics
State and National Trends
| United States |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2008 |
2018 |
Correctional officers and jailers |
454,500 |
497,500 |
+9%
|
14,360
| Pennsylvania |
Employment |
Percent
Change |
Job Openings 1 |
| 2006 |
2016 |
| Correctional officers and jailers |
17,250 |
19,800 |
+15%
|
650
|
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.
Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.
Occupation Trends FAQs
Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation
National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Correctional Officers and Jailers.
Knowledge:
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Skills:
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Abilities:
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Source: Occupational Information Network: Correctional Officers and Jailers.
Tasks and Activities
Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Correctional Officers and Jailers.
Occupation Specific Tasks:
- Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
- Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
- Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
- Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
- Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
- 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.
- Participate in required job training.
- Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
- Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Search for and recapture escapees.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
- Settle disputes between inmates.
- Sponsor inmate recreational activities such as newspapers and self-help groups.
- Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
- Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
- Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment such as a computer.
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
Generalized Work Activities:
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities:
- apply appropriate physical restraint
- authorize entry or exit of individuals
- communicate details in protective services settings
- conduct legal searches or investigations
- enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
- escort prisoners, defendants or individuals needing protection
- follow law enforcement methods or procedures
- inspect commercial vehicles
- maintain production or work records
- monitor inmate activity
- operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- patrol or guard area or premises
- serve food or beverages
- use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
- use firearms
- use first aid procedures
- use oral or written communication techniques
Source: Occupational Information Network: Correctional Officers and Jailers.
Tools and Technology
No Tools and Technology information is available for the selected occupation. Try the Tools and Technology section to view other occupations with Tools and Technology information.
Education and Training
Occupation: Correctional Officers and Jailers
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Related Instructional Programs:
- Corrections
- Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other
- Juvenile Corrections
Distribution of Educational Attainment
| Occupation |
Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is |
| Less than high school diploma |
High school diploma or equivalent |
Some college, no degree |
Associate's degree |
Bachelor's degree |
Master's degree |
Doctoral or professional degree |
| Correctional officers and jailers |
1.9% |
36.3% |
37.1% |
12.3% |
10.9% |
1.2% |
0.3% |
| Law Enforcement Workers |
2% |
24.7% |
31.1% |
12.9% |
24.2% |
4.4% |
0.7% |
| Protective Service |
4.8% |
26.4% |
30.3% |
12.7% |
20.7% |
4.4% |
0.7% |
| Total, All Occupations |
10.7% |
27.6% |
20.6% |
8.9% |
19.4% |
8.3% |
4.5% |
Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.
Find education and training programs where you can earn a certificate, diploma, or award in less than 2 years with the Short-Term Training Finder.
Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.
Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.
WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/homeframe.asp?function=trainprov
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)
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