Do correction officers make a good living?

Question

Do correction officers make a good living?

Answer 1

It all depends on where you are located. Here, the corrections officers make about the same to start out as the police officers do, but their pay does not increase as fast. The more years a person has, the better they are paid, and many corrections facilities have advancement opportunities. It's not a bad living, but not the best either.

Answer 2

It depends on where you live.  I know corrections officers that work for a county jail in NJ and they make from 80-100 thousand a year after 10 years on the job.  Add overtime to that and you are doing pretty well.  It's a tough job though, and they deserve that pay for being stuck with prisoners all day long.

Answer 3

not here in NC..have a friend at central..he makes c**p..and down here..no such thing as OT pay..if you work an extra day, they just give u another day off..now that sucks

Answer 4

Income is subjective to the cost of living and income.  Also, corrections vary state to state.  

(I'm talking about CA Department of Corrections not county jails)

CA is considered to be the best trained correctional officers in the country.  Few states invest the money and time into training or safety.

Correctional officers in CA make a decent income.  In parts of CA, 70K (topped out correctional officer) will go a long ways... but in other parts, 70K is chump change.

In CA, you get a step raise every 6 months until you're topped out.  After 2 yrs, you're off probation and get another significant raise.

If you choose to promote, your income and benefit package also increase.  A SGT with 3 yrs rank makes around 85K with no overtime.

At the same time, you receive health insurance, dental, vision, retirement and union benefits... all have value that isn't factored into your annual salary.

State correctional officer pay is comparable to CA Highway Patrol... tho their benefit package is better.

You also have to consider the danger (not only inmates being violent but the exposure to communicable disease) and stress level of the job.  There are pros and cons to being a c/o versus a street cop.

Do not make this decision lightly.  This type of job will affect who you are (I know, you're saying it won't but it will- trust me) and not always for the better... at the same time, job security with decent pay is not easy to come by.

Answer 5

In my own state, the news just aired a story of a graduating class of corrections officers.

Although their starting pay is about 26k...you have to remember here in the deep south...the cost of living is low as well!

The C/O's here are on the state retirement system and with 20 years you get about 50% or better of your highest wage earned.

Answer 6

yes they do

Answer 7

I do...I have no complaints good check every month ,great insurance, paid time off aswell as paid sick leave, I work every other weekend its okay....

Answer 8

No, my father has 2 jobs and drives a 91' Grand prix with no side mirrors......

life is hard for a guy who has a disabled wife and 3 kids

Answer 9

On average pay,insurance,and retirement are very good.