How to become a first-line supervisors of correctional officer

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What first-line supervisors of correctional officers do

• Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
• Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
• Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
• Supervise activities, such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
• Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.
• Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is first-line supervisors of correctional officer a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 53% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• California $131,210
• New Jersey $117,450
• Utah $110,410
• Nevada $107,260
• Massachusetts $105,930

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.