It is such a normal situation that working in a correctional institution may be stressful and hazardous, even though the nature and extent of danger vary with each assignment. Generally, the hazard will be minimized by completing thorough and intense academy training and also by following recognized procedures to prevent and control violence.
After knowing that working in a correctional institution is really stressful, you also need to know how many days the Correctional Officers work in a week. So, you can take a deep consideration to determine if you will apply for this job. So, let’s see the information below!
Working Time of a Correctional Officer
The Correctional Officers commonly work an eight-hour day, five days a week on a rotating shift. Since the prison and jail security should be provided around the clock, the officers will work all hours of the day and night, weekends and holidays. Aside from that, the officers are probably required to work overtime.
The Correctional Officers will work in various-sized institutions, starting from tightly-controlled, maximum-security prisons to light-security complexes that resemble college campuses. Some work in small, minimum-security conservation camps that are located in forest and brush lands throughout the State. A few will be assigned to halfway houses or to community correctional centers that are located in some major cities.
How Much Is the Salary of a Correctional Officer?
We will show you the estimation of salary that will be earned by a correctional officer. Generally, the Correctional Officers who work for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will typically earn higher wages than those working in federal, city and county institutions. On average, the salary of the Correctional Officer in the United States is roughly $47,839, as of May 27, 2022. However, the range typically falls between $42,599 and $53,088.
The range of salary will vary widely depending on many essential factors including certification, education, additional skills, and the number of years you’ve spent in your profession.
We take the example of the median salary of correctional officers in 2021 for Correctional Officers and Jailers California that we obtained from abormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. In California, the median salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers was $86,010 annually, or $41.35 hourly.
The median salary for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Orange County was $72,198 annually, or $34.71 hourly. The median is the point at which half of workers earn more and half earn less.
Annually
| Annual Wages for 2021 | Low (25th Percentile) | Median (50th Percentile) | High (75th percentile) |
| California | $68,244 | $86,010 | $102,957 |
| Orange County | $62,717 | $72,198 | $83,257 |
Hourly
| Hourly Wages for 2021 | Low (25th Percentile) | Median (50th Percentile) | High (75th percentile) |
| California | $32.81 | $41.35 | $49.49 |
| Orange County | $30.15 | $34.71 | $40.03 |
It is known that state of California Correctional Officers actually receive medical, vision and dental benefits, paid holidays and vacation, enrollment in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and are members of the State Peace Officer/ Firefighter retirement category.
Additionally, State Correctional Officers will also receive a uniform replacement allowance and other monetary incentives based on fitness, education and institution location.
According to eleven employers in Orange County, all provide medical insurance and vacation and also dental insurance. Then, almost all provide retirement plans, life insurance, vision insurance and sick leave benefits to Correctional Officers and Jailers who work full-time.
| Percent of Employers Who Provide Specific Benefits by Time Base |
||
| Benefit Type | Full-Time | Part-Time |
| Medical Insurance | 100% | 0% |
| Vacation | 100% | 0% |
| Dental Insurance | 100% | 0% |
| Retirement Plan | 91% | 0% |
| Vision Insurance | 91% | 0% |
| Life Insurance | 82% | 0% |
| Sick Leave | 82% | 0% |
| Disability Insurance | 64% | 0% |
| Paid Time Off Bank | 55% | 0% |
| No benefits | 0% | 0% |
Of the 11 employers surveyed in Orange County who provide medical benefits, almost all reported that they pay half or more of the cost of medical insurance for full-time. No one reported that they paid half or more of the cost of health insurance for part-time Correctional Officers and Wardens.
| Percent of Employers Who Paid Medical Insurance by Portion Paid by Time Base |
||
| Portion Paid by Employer: | Full-Time | Part-Time |
| All | 45% | 0% |
| Half or more | 45% | 0% |
| Less than Half | 9% | 0% |
| None | 0% | 0% |
How to Become a Correctional Officer?
In order to become a Correctional Officer, there are several requirements you should meet in Education, Training and Other Requirements. Here are the minimum requirements for State Correctional Officers include the following:
- The candidate must be at least 21 years old.
- Have no felony convictions
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien who is eligible for and also has applied for U.S. citizenship before filling for the Correctional Officer exam.
- Must graduate from the U.S. High School or also have a GED (Youth Correctional Counselors should have a Bachelor’s degree while Casework Specialists should have a Masters in Social Work)
- Must have a history of law-abiding behaviour
After the minimum qualifications are met, the candidate should do the following:
- To complete an application and get a passing score on the Scoring Category Worksheet.
- To pass a written exam and written component of the Peace Officer Psychological Evaluation
- To pass the vision exam and Physical Abilities Test
- To complete a Personal History Statement and pass the Background Investigation.
- To pass the oral component of the Peace Officer Psychological Evaluation.
- To pass pre employment medical examination before moving forward to the certification and appointment process where the academy assignment is scheduled.
All new hires for State Correctional Officers will receive a salary while attending a 16-week training academy. The officers will rotate among various tasks and different shifts and get on-the-job training during the first year.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons really requires at least a high school diploma or GED with a maximum age of 36 and at least one of the following to be eligible for employment as a Correctional Officer:
A bachelor degree plus six months experience
Three years work experience in chosen fields such as health care, teaching, sales or social work.
The candidate should also pass an oral and physical exam. In this case, a written test is not required. Three weeks of specialized training will be given at the residential training center located in Glynco, Georgia.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
