Job Features

• Corrections officers guard and direct inmates when they are in their cells, at scheduled meals and exercise, and during work assignments and religious services. Some correctional officers escort inmates outside the facility to court dates or medical appointments. They do routine checks for contraband items and patrol assigned areas for signs of rule infractions. When necessary, the officer uses force or a weapon to maintain order. Qualifications vary by agency, but all agencies require a high school diploma or equivalent, reports the BLS.
  
  

Salary Range

• The national median salary for corrections officers in 2010 was about $39,300 per year, according to Salary.com. The middle 50 percent of those on the earnings scale were making about $35,000 to $43,700, and the top 10 percent more than $47,600.
  
  

Comparisons

• Florida has one of the highest concentrations of workers in this occupation, with 35,360 corrections officers employed there in 2009, notes the BLS. The median salary in Tampa in 2010 was about $37,000. The middle 50 percent there were earning $33,000 to $41,100, with the top 10 percent having incomes over $44,800. Median salaries for corrections officers in other Florida cities include Tallahassee at $36,700, Orlando at $37,500, Miami at $38,200 and Fort Lauderdale at $38,300.
  
  

Considerations

• The BLS predicts increasing job opportunities for correctional officers because of a growing population and rising incarceration rates resulting from mandatory sentencing policies. Some facilities have difficulty recruiting qualified candidates and retaining employees because of relatively low salaries for stressful and potentially hazardous work, along with shift work requirements and a prevalence of jobs in rural locations.