Correctional Officers and Jailers
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.
At a Glance
Correctional Officers and Jailers earns a median of $57,970/yr with -7.8% projected growth. Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent. Top skills: Dependability, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word.
$57,970/yr
-7.8%
30
High school diploma or equivalent
Skills & Requirements
Skills (12)
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge (9)
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.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Abilities (13)
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Technology (8)
Work Activities (29)
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Work Styles (3)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
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