What they do
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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Also called: |
Booking Officer, Community Services Officer (CSO), Correctional Officer, Corrections Officer (CO), Deputy Jailer, Detention Deputy, Detention Officer, Jail Officer, Jailer, Jailor
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Wages
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Vermont - 2023 |
Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
10% |
$ 20.00 |
$41,600 |
25% |
$ 20.96 |
$43,600 |
Median |
$ 24.16 |
$50,250 |
75% |
$ 28.54 |
$59,360 |
90% |
$ 31.03 |
$64,540 |
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Average |
$ 25.02 |
$52,030 |
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More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
United States - 2022 |
Industry | Percent of total |
- State government, excluding education and hospitals
| 51% |
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
| 41% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 4% |
- Administrative and support services
| 4% |
- Hospitals; state, local, and private
| 0% |
More at BLS |
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Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Public Safety and Security
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.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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- Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
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- Customer and Personal Service
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.
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- Administration and Management
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.
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More at O*NET |
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Skills
People in this career often have these skills: |
- Active Listening
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.
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- Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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- Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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More at O*NET |
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Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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- Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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More at O*NET |
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Tasks
On the job, you would: |
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
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- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
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- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
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- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
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- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
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More at O*NET |
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Related Occupations
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Career Video
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Projected Employment
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Vermont |
2022 employment |
443 |
2032 employment |
446 |
Annual percent change (compounded) |
0.1% |
Annual projected job openings (due to change and separations) |
38 |
More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical 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. |
- Physical activity is Important
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- Level of activity is Moderate
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Low | | High |
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Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have? |
Education level | | Percent of U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or post-BA certificate | | 0% |
Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
Associate's degree | | 8% |
Certificate or some college, no degree | | 0% |
High school diploma or equivalent | | 92% |
Less than high school diploma | | 0% |
More at O*NET |
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Abilities
People in this career often have talent in: |
- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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- Problem Sensitivity
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.
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- Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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- Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
In general, what you might do: |
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
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- Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day: |
- Count prison inmates or personnel.
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- Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
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- Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
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- Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
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- Search individuals for illegal or dangerous items.
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More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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