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How to hire a corporal

Corporal hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring corporals in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a corporal is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per corporal on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 20,552 corporals in the US and 320 job openings.
  • Pine Bluff, AR, has the highest demand for corporals, with 3 job openings.
  • Camp Pendleton South, CA has the highest concentration of corporals.

How to hire a corporal, step by step

To hire a corporal, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a corporal:

Here's a step-by-step corporal hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a corporal job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new corporal
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a corporal do?

A police corporal is a person who leads a team or squad depending on how many corporals are there in a platoon. Police corporals supervise the performance of the police personnel assigned under their command. They are tasked to oversee, train, organize, and direct the activities of law enforcement personnel. It is their duty to take care of and observe the conduct of soldiers. Their leadership role is necessary and maintained on and off the battlefield.

Learn more about the specifics of what a corporal does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the corporal you need to hire. Certain corporal roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A corporal's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, corporals from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of corporal salaries for various roles:

    Type of CorporalDescriptionHourly rate
    CorporalCorrectional 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 are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms.$14-42
    United States MarineAlso referred to as the U.S. Marines Corps, United States Marines is a United States Armed Forces branch that takes responsibility to conduct amphibious and expeditionary operations... Show more$11-34
    Detention OfficerThe role of detention officers is to supervise inmates in state detention facilities. They are responsible for ensuring the safe imprisonment of detainees, managing conflict between detainees, and reporting inappropriate behavior to the warden... Show more$13-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Public Safety
    • Combat
    • Non
    • Vehicle Maintenance
    • Weapons Systems
    • Emergency Situations
    • Law Enforcement
    • Logistics
    • CPR
    • Platoon
    • Preventive Maintenance
    • Hazardous Materials
    • Ribbon
    • Incident Reports
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage transport of supplies/equipment and perform planning and execution functions to support movement in both training and combat environments.
    • Train in CPR and a use.
    • Supervise USAF military and contractors on base.
    • Receive a wealth of medical training knowledge including CPR and emergency care.
    • Tool room NCO in charge of inventory and checkout of tools and parts.
    • Work and utilize teamwork to complete complicate task in an effective and timely manner.
    More corporal duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your corporal job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A corporal salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a corporal in Kentucky may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level corporal usually earns less than a senior-level corporal. Additionally, a corporal with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average corporal salary

    $51,741yearly

    $24.88 hourly rate

    Entry-level corporal salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 24, 2026

    Average corporal salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$71,992$35
    2California$69,943$34
    3Pennsylvania$62,035$30
    4Ohio$54,825$26
    5Arizona$50,973$25
    6Texas$49,384$24
    7Colorado$47,638$23
    8Florida$47,416$23
    9North Carolina$44,786$22
    10Missouri$36,080$17
    11Arkansas$31,901$15

    Average corporal salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Vanderbilt University Medical Center$48,544$23.34
    2Americorps$40,869$19.65
    3University of Pennsylvania$39,675$19.07
    4Penn Medicine Princeton Health$37,916$18.232
    5S.C. Department of Commerce$31,948$15.36
  4. Writing a corporal job description

    A corporal job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a corporal job description:

    Corporal job description example

    Company Federal Reserve Bank of AtlantaAs an employee of the Atlanta Fed, you will help support our mission of promoting the stability and efficiency of the U.S. economy and financial system. Your work will affect the economy of the Southeast, the United States, and the world. The work we do here is important, and how we do it is just as important as what we do. We live our values of integrity, excellence, and respect every day. We do the right thing, we do things right, and we treat people right. A career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta gives you the chance to do work that touches lives and helps communities prosper.

    A requirement of this position is that the employee must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or qualify for an accommodation from the Bank's vaccination policy. To provide for the health and safety of its employees and support the Bank's mission to the greatest extent possible, the Bank decided to adopt this requirement after careful review of public health information, workforce data, employee feedback, and the Federal Reserve System's pandemic recovery plans. The Bank requires all employees to be vaccinated fully against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

    Maintains proficiency in law enforcement duties through formal training and on the job experience. Performs physical security functions, enforces Federal Reserve policies/regulations, and federal laws to protect Bank staff and assets. Responds to incidents on Bank property and provides emergency services. This position is an essential function of the Bank and the incumbent may be required to work extended hours and/or work during emergency or crisis situations.

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Maintains designation required to operate as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the authority given the Board of Governors by Section 11 (q) of the Federal Reserve Act and the Uniform Regulations for Federal Reserve Law Enforcement Officers. Meets minimum requirements of all department standards and training requirements.

    • Maintains proficiency in all aspects of key responsibilities such as: operating policies, weapons (lethal and nonlethal), use of force applications, physical security equipment, first aid and CPR/AED, firefighting techniques, civil disorders, and public relations. Responds to alarms, accidents, and incidents, accurately report associated facts in writing, and performs follow up duties as directed. Must exhibit spontaneous sound/reasonable judgment over life safety issues, the discrete handling of detected weapons and/or explosive devices and the proper handling of sensitive information and incidents. Could be required to testify in court in response to a subpoena regarding accidents or incidents.

    • Performs law enforcement and safety related duties. Patrols building/grounds and reports unusual situations or unauthorized individuals, responds to alarm conditions and provides emergency services. Monitors surveillance equipment, intercoms, telephones, radios, and other specialized equipment. Monitors Bank departments for safety or security violations and reports findings to department management. Prepares appropriate shift reports, incidents reports and other required paperwork as necessary.

    • Controls pedestrian and vehicle access to the facility through use of screening equipment to detect unauthorized items prior to entry to Bank property. Inspects vehicles entering security sensitive areas for unauthorized personnel or contents. Monitors and authorizes visitors accessing Bank facilities and records visitor data on appropriate logs. Maintains proficiency in use of computer and related software, computerized access and control systems, video surveillance equipment, x-ray and metal screening equipment and various alarm systems.

    • Performs additional duties in support of law enforcement operations as directed by management.

    Education:

    • High School Diploma or GED

    Experience:

    • Less than 2 years

    • Knowledge Area/Technical Skills/Certifications and Licenses:

    • Basic Law Enforcement

    • Microsoft Applications

    Our total rewards program offers benefits that are the best fit for you at every stage of your career:

    • Comprehensive healthcare options (Medical, Dental, and Vision)

    • 401K match, and a fully funded pension plan

    • Paid vacation and holidays; flexible work environment

    • Generously subsidized public transportation

    • Annual tuition reimbursement

    • Professional development programs, training and conferences

    • And more…

    This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, performance standards or requirements, efforts, skills or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, rush jobs, change in workload or technological developments).

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is an equal opportunity employer.

    Full Time / Part Time Full time Regular / Temporary Regular Job Exempt (Yes / No) No Job Category Law Enforcement/Protection/Security Work Shift Third (United States of America)

    The Federal Reserve Banks believe that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences.

    Privacy Notice

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right corporal for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your corporal job on Zippia to find and recruit corporal candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with corporal candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new corporal

    Once you've found the corporal candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new corporal. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a corporal?

Recruiting corporals involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $51,741 per year for a corporal, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for corporals in the US typically range between $14 and $42 an hour.

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