Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Correctional officers oversee those who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in jail or prison. Bailiffs are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms.
Work Environment: Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and dangerous. Correctional officers and jailers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, often resulting from confrontations with inmates. Officers work in shifts that cover all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Bailiffs’ hours are determined by when court is in session.
How to Become One: Correctional officers go through a training academy and then are assigned to a facility for on-the-job training. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, all agencies require a high school diploma and have an age requirement. Some federal agencies also require some college education or related work experience.
Salary: The median annual wage for bailiffs was $56,600 in May 2025. The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $58,940 in May 2025.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of correctional officers and bailiffs is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of correctional officers and bailiffs with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a correctional officer with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Correctional Officer Jobs
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Patrolling Security Officer
- Securitas
- Columbus,OH
Patrolling Security Officer Wage: $20.00/ hour ...
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Investigative Analyst
- Clarity Recruiting
- Columbus,OH
Investigative Analyst Location: Remote (NYC Metro Area Preferred) Position Type: Full-Time, non-exempt Salary: $55,000–$65,000 annually, plus...
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Fire Extinguisher Technician – UniFirst First Aid+ Safety
- UniFirst
- Blacklick,OH
Our Team is Kind of a Big Deal! ...
Top 3 Bailiff Jobs
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Data Entry Clerk - (Remote)
- Workada
- Columbus,OH
Remote | Flexible Hours | Contract | Data Labeling Pay Rate: $17/hr (USD) At Workada, we're not just labeling data, we're helping improve the technology people use every day. Our work creates the...
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Project Manager
- LHH
- Columbus,OH
We are seeking an experienced Project Manager for a contract opportunity with an ASAP start. This position is fully remote and is ideal for someone with strong project management experience who also has experience supporting grants and...
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Client Services Specialist – Remote
- The Hirsh Agency
- Columbus,OH
We're hiring remote Client Services Specialists to work directly with prospective clients, understand their needs, explain available protection options, and provide professional support throughout the decision and application...
What Correctional Officers and Bailiffs Do[About this section] [To Top]
Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in jail or prison. Bailiffs, also known as marshals or court officers, are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms. Their duties, which vary by court, include enforcing courtroom rules, assisting judges, guarding juries, delivering court documents, and providing general security for courthouses.
Duties of Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
Correctional officers typically do the following:
- Enforce rules and keep order within jails or prisons
- Supervise activities of inmates
- Inspect facilities to ensure that they meet security and safety standards
- Search inmates for contraband items
- Report on inmate conduct
- Escort and transport inmates
Bailiffs typically do the following:
- Ensure the security of the courtroom
- Enforce courtroom rules
- Follow court procedures
- Escort judges, jurors, witnesses, and prisoners
- Handle evidence and court documents
Inside the prison or jail, correctional officers enforce rules and regulations. They maintain security by preventing disturbances, assaults, and escapes, and by inspecting facilities. They check cells and other areas for unsanitary conditions, contraband, signs of a security breach (such as tampering with window bars and doors), and other rule violations. Officers also inspect mail and visitors for prohibited items. They write reports and fill out daily logs detailing inmate behavior and anything else of note that occurred during their shift.
Correctional officers may have to restrain inmates in handcuffs and leg irons to escort them safely to and from cells and to see authorized visitors. Officers also escort prisoners to courtrooms, medical facilities, and other destinations.
Bailiffs' specific duties vary by court, but their primary duty is to maintain order and security in courts of law. They enforce courtroom procedures that protect the integrity of the legal process. For example, they ensure that attorneys and witnesses do not influence juries outside of the courtroom, and they also may isolate juries from the public in some circumstances. As a neutral party, they may handle evidence during court hearings to ensure that only permitted evidence is displayed.
Work Environment for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs[About this section] [To Top]
Bailiffs hold about 16,800 jobs. The largest employers of bailiffs are as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 64% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 35% |
Correctional officers and jailers hold about 402,200 jobs. The largest employers of correctional officers and jailers are as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 53% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 38% |
| Facilities support services | 4% |
| Federal government | 4% |
Correctional officers may work indoors or outdoors, and bailiffs generally work in courtrooms. They both may be required to stand for long periods.
Injuries and Illnesses for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and dangerous. Correctional officers may become injured in confrontations with inmates, and they have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
The job demands that officers be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift.
Correctional Officer and Bailiff Work Schedules
Correctional officers usually work full time on rotating shifts. Because jail and prison security must be provided around the clock, officers work all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Many officers are required to work overtime. Bailiffs' hours are determined by when court is in session.
How to Become a Correctional Officer or Bailiff[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs near you!
Correctional officers and bailiffs typically attend a training academy. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, all agencies require a high school diploma. Federal agencies may also require some college education or previous work experience.
Many agencies establish a minimum age for correctional officers, which is typically between 18 and 21 years of age.
Education for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
Correctional officers and bailiffs must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
For employment in federal prisons, the Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have at least a bachelor's degree or 1 to 3 years of full-time experience in a field providing counseling, assistance, or supervision to individuals.
Correctional Officer and Bailiff Training
Correctional officers and bailiffs complete training at an academy. Training typically lasts several months, but this varies by state. The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training maintains links to states' Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) programs. Academy trainees receive instruction in a number of subjects, including self-defense, institutional policies, regulations, operations, and security procedures.
Important Qualities for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs
Decisionmaking skills. Correctional officers and bailiffs must use both their training and common sense to quickly determine the best course of action and to take the necessary steps to achieve a desired outcome.
Detail oriented. Correctional officers and bailiffs follow and enforce strict procedures in correctional facilities and courts to ensure everyone's safety.
Interpersonal skills. Correctional officers and bailiffs must be able to interact and communicate effectively with inmates and others to maintain order in correctional facilities and courtrooms.
Negotiating skills. Correctional officers must be able to assist others in resolving differences in order to avoid conflict.
Physical strength. Correctional officers and bailiffs must have the strength to physically subdue inmates or others.
Self-discipline. Correctional officers must control their emotions when confronted with hostile situations.
Correctional Officer and Bailiff Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).
The median annual wage for bailiffs was $56,600 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,140, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,770.
The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $58,940 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,220.
In May 2025, the median annual wages for bailiffs in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $74,630 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $48,580 |
In May 2025, the median annual wages for correctional officers and jailers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government | $74,630 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $59,990 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $58,500 |
| Facilities support services | $46,910 |
Most correctional officers and bailiffs work full time. Because jail and prison security must be provided around the clock, correctional officers work in shifts that cover all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Correctional officers may be required to work overtime. Bailiffs usually work when court is in session.
Job Outlook for Correctional Officers and Bailiffs[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of correctional officers and bailiffs is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
About 30,000 openings for correctional officers and bailiffs are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Changes to criminal laws have a large effect on how many people are arrested and incarcerated each year. Faced with high costs for keeping people in prison, many state governments have moved toward laws requiring shorter prison terms and alternatives to prison. Community-based programs that are designed to rehabilitate prisoners and limit their risk of repeated offenses also may reduce prisoner counts.
Demand for bailiffs is expected to stem from the need to maintain security in courtrooms during legal proceedings. However, demand for bailiffs may be limited by state and local budget constraints.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2025 | Projected Employment, 2035 | Change, 2025-35 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers | 415,800 | 385,900 | -7 | -29,900 |
| Bailiffs | 18,000 | 17,700 | -2 | -300 |
| Correctional officers and jailers | 397,800 | 368,200 | -7 | -29,500 |
More Correctional Officer and Bailiff Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), visit
International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
For more information about career opportunities for correctional officers at the federal level, visit
For more information about federal government requirements for correctional officers, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.