Correctional Officers and Jailers
SOC Code: 33-3012 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Correctional Officers and Jailers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $104,000 | $113,818 | $123,656 | $133,474 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,125 | $89,523 | $100,922 | $112,320 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $69,763 | $83,013 | $96,242 | $109,491 |
| Salinas, CA | $77,334 | $87,506 | $97,656 | $107,827 |
| El Centro, CA | $80,621 | $89,419 | $98,238 | $107,037 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $92,019 | $96,866 | $101,712 | $106,558 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80,454 | $89,128 | $97,802 | $106,475 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $80,891 | $89,336 | $97,760 | $106,205 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $73,320 | $84,053 | $94,765 | $105,498 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,317 | $85,197 | $95,056 | $104,936 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Monitoring | 4.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Coordination | 3.5 | |
| Persuasion | 3.4 | |
| Active Learning | 3.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.1 |
| English Language | 4.0 |
| Law and Government | 3.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.5 |
| Administration and Management | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.4 |
| Psychology | 3.4 |
| Administrative | 3.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 92.4% |
| Associate's degree | 7.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
- Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
- 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.
- Settle disputes between inmates.
- Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Facebook Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word 3M Electronic Monitoring Corrections housing software Guardian RFID Jail management software Web browser software Word processing software
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