Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in jail or prison. Bailiffs, also known as marshals or court officers, are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms. Their duties, which vary by court, include enforcing courtroom rules, assisting judges, guarding juries, delivering court documents, and providing general security for courthouses.
Correctional officers typically do the following:
Bailiffs typically do the following:
Inside the prison or jail, correctional officers enforce rules and regulations. They maintain security by preventing disturbances, assaults, and escapes, and by inspecting facilities. They check cells and other areas for unsanitary conditions, contraband, signs of a security breach (such as tampering with window bars and doors), and other rule violations. Officers also inspect mail and visitors for prohibited items. They write reports and fill out daily logs detailing inmate behavior and anything else of note that occurred during their shift.
Correctional officers may have to restrain inmates in handcuffs and leg irons to escort them safely to and from cells and to see authorized visitors. Officers also escort prisoners to courtrooms, medical facilities, and other destinations.
Bailiffs’ specific duties vary by court, but their primary duty is to maintain order and security in courts of law. They enforce courtroom procedures that protect the integrity of the legal process. For example, they ensure that attorneys and witnesses do not influence juries outside of the courtroom, and they also may isolate juries from the public in some circumstances. As a neutral party, they may handle evidence during court hearings to ensure that only permitted evidence is displayed.
Bailiffs held about 18,500 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of bailiffs were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 67% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 32 |
Correctional officers and jailers held about 418,500 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of correctional officers and jailers were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 52% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 38 |
| Facilities support services | 5 |
| Federal government | 4 |
Correctional officers may work indoors or outdoors, and bailiffs generally work in courtrooms. They both may be required to stand for long periods.
Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and dangerous. Correctional officers and jailers may become injured in confrontations with inmates, and they have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
The job demands that officers be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift.
Correctional officers usually work full time on rotating shifts. Because jail and prison security must be provided around the clock, officers work all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Many officers are required to work overtime. Bailiffs’ hours are determined by when court is in session.
Correctional officers and bailiffs typically attend a training academy. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, all agencies require a high school diploma. Federal agencies may also require some college education or previous work experience.
Many agencies establish a minimum age for correctional officers, which is typically between 18 and 21 years of age.
Correctional officers and bailiffs must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
For employment in federal prisons, the Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have at least a bachelor’s degree or 1 to 3 years of full-time experience in a field providing counseling, assistance, or supervision to individuals. Bachelor's degree fields vary but commonly include security and protective service or a related field, such as social science.
Correctional officers and bailiffs complete training at an academy. Training typically lasts several months, but this varies by state. The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training maintains links to states’ Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) programs. Academy trainees receive instruction in a number of subjects, including self-defense, institutional policies, regulations, operations, and security procedures.
Decisionmaking skills. Correctional officers and bailiffs must use both their training and common sense to quickly determine the best course of action and to take the necessary steps to achieve a desired outcome.
Detail oriented. Correctional officers and bailiffs follow and enforce strict procedures in correctional facilities and courts to ensure everyone’s safety.
Interpersonal skills. Correctional officers and bailiffs must be able to interact and communicate effectively with inmates and others to maintain order in correctional facilities and courtrooms.
Negotiating skills. Correctional officers must be able to assist others in resolving differences in order to avoid conflict.
Physical strength. Correctional officers and bailiffs must have the strength to physically subdue inmates or others.
Self-discipline. Correctional officers must control their emotions when confronted with hostile situations.
Median annual wages, May 2021
The median annual wage for bailiffs was $48,320 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,330.
The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $47,920 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,340.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for bailiffs in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $62,090 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 42,120 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for correctional officers and jailers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government | $59,920 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 48,530 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 47,920 |
| Facilities support services | 39,820 |
Correctional officers usually work full time on rotating shifts. Because jail and prison security must be provided around the clock, officers work all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Many officers are required to work overtime. Bailiffs’ hours are determined by when court is in session.
Percent change in employment, projected 2020-30
Overall employment of correctional officers and bailiffs is projected to decline 7 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Despite declining employment, about 35,700 openings for correctional officers and bailiffs are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Lower incarceration rates and prison population levels are expected to reduce employment demand for these workers.
Although correctional officers will continue to be needed to watch over the U.S. prison population, changes to criminal laws have a large effect on how many people are arrested and incarcerated each year. Faced with high costs for keeping people in prison, many state governments have moved toward laws requiring shorter prison terms and alternatives to prison. While keeping the public safe, community-based programs that are designed to rehabilitate prisoners and limit their risk of repeated offenses also may reduce prisoner counts.
Bailiffs will continue to be needed to keep order in courtrooms. However, decreasing court caseloads will limit demand for these workers.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2020 | Projected Employment, 2030 | Change, 2020-30 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
|||||||
Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers |
33-3010 | 437,100 | 407,200 | -7 | -29,900 | Get data | |
Bailiffs |
33-3011 | 18,500 | 18,600 | 0 | 100 | Get data | |
Correctional officers and jailers |
33-3012 | 418,500 | 388,500 | -7 | -30,000 | Get data | |
For more information about Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), visit
International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training
For more information about career opportunities for correctional officers at the federal level, visit
For more information about federal government requirements for correctional officers, visit
U.S. Office of Personnel Management