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Hiring a correctional officer: the market today

The short answer ·

572 open postings ask for a correctional officer as of Sep 25, 2026, from 80 employers. The median advertised minimum is $51,750. 225 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.

572open postings
80employers hiring
$51,750median advertised minimum
225new in 30 days

Who you're competing with

Department of Corrections60
State of Arkansas45
State of Alaska43
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System34
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania31

Open postings · Ayla, 2026-09-25

What it pays

Lower quartile$47,925
Median$51,750
Upper quartile$65,545

Advertised minimum, 394 postings with pay

Questions buyers ask

How hard is it to hire a correctional officer?

Competitive. 80 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Department of Corrections with 60 open postings.

What should I pay a correctional officer?

Advertised minimums center on $51,750. The middle half runs from $47,925 to $65,545.