First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Also called: Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
Also called: Commissary Manager, Correction Officer Supervisor, Correction Warden, Correctional Captain, Correctional Case Records Supervisor, Correctional Housing Unit Manager
Median pay
$77,970
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$52,330 – $127,780
People employed
53,380
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- May deal with aggressive people
- Tight deadlines are common
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers salary in every state →
What first-line supervisors of correctional officers do
- 01Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
- 02Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
- 03Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
- 04Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
- 05Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
- 06Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from first-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers83% · −2%
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers83% · −11%
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists78% · −15%
- Administrative Services Managers78% · +46%
- Social and Community Service Managers77% · +3%
Change into first-line supervisors of correctional officers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bailiffs88% · $56,600
- Correctional Officers and Jailers83% · $58,940
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists83% · $66,270
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers81% · $48,590
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers80% · $76,210
Majors that lead here
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Corrections
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
- Corrections Administration
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.