Jobs Similar to Correctional Officers and Jailers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to correctional officers and jailers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Bailiffs, Security Guards and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers.
Correctional Officers and Jailers: $58,940 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Correctional Officers and Jailers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BailiffsSame group | 82% | $56,600−4% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Security Guards | 81% | $38,020−35% | High school |
| 3 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersSame group | 79% | $76,210+29% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Transit and Railroad PoliceSame group | 78% | $90,230+53% | Training or associate |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 78% | $77,970+32% | Training or associate |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 77% | $55,940−5% | High school |
| 7 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 77% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 8 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 77% | $53,040−10% | High school |
| 9 | Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | 75% | $43,370−26% | High school |
| 10 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 75% | $50,340−15% | High school |
| 11 | Parking Enforcement WorkersSame group | 75% | $46,730−21% | High school |
| 12 | Transportation Security Screeners | 75% | $66,770+13% | High school |
| 13 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 74% | $64,400+9% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 74% | $38,630−34% | High school |
| 15 | Customs and Border Protection OfficersSame group | 74% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 16 | Animal Control Workers | 74% | $45,660−23% | High school |
| 17 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | 74% | $38,100−35% | High school |
| 18 | Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSame group | 73% | $93,790+59% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Residential Advisors | 73% | $42,240−28% | Training or associate |
| 20 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 73% | $106,040+80% | High school |
- 1Bailiffs
82% similar · $56,600 (−4%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Security Guards
81% similar · $38,020 (−35%) · High school
- 3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
79% similar · $76,210 (+29%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Transit and Railroad Police
78% similar · $90,230 (+53%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
78% similar · $77,970 (+32%) · Training or associate
- 6First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
77% similar · $55,940 (−5%) · High school
- 7Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
77% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 8Public Safety Telecommunicators
77% similar · $53,040 (−10%) · High school
- 9Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators
75% similar · $43,370 (−26%) · High school
- 10Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
75% similar · $50,340 (−15%) · High school
- 11Parking Enforcement Workers
75% similar · $46,730 (−21%) · High school · Same group
- 12Transportation Security Screeners
75% similar · $66,770 (+13%) · High school
- 13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
74% similar · $64,400 (+9%) · Training or associate
- 14Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
74% similar · $38,630 (−34%) · High school
- 15Customs and Border Protection Officers
74% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 16Animal Control Workers
74% similar · $45,660 (−23%) · High school
- 17Crossing Guards and Flaggers
74% similar · $38,100 (−35%) · High school
- 18Detectives and Criminal Investigators
73% similar · $93,790 (+59%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Residential Advisors
73% similar · $42,240 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 20First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
73% similar · $106,040 (+80%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than correctional officers and jailers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for correctional officers and jailers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where correctional officers and jailers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Security Guards (88)
- Animal Control Workers (78)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (77)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators (77)
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists (77)
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (76)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (75)
- Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (75)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (74)
- Transportation Security Screeners (74)
Questions about jobs like correctional officers and jailers
What jobs are most similar to correctional officers and jailers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Bailiffs (82% similar), Security Guards (81% similar), Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (79% similar), Transit and Railroad Police (78% similar) and First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (78% similar).
Which jobs like correctional officers and jailers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives ($106,040, +80%; usually a high school diploma), Detectives and Criminal Investigators ($93,790, +59%; usually training or an associate degree) and Transit and Railroad Police ($90,230, +53%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with correctional officers and jailers ($58,940). Without more preparation than correctional officers and jailers usually need: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives and Transportation Security Screeners.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.