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Correctional guard vs prison guard

The differences between correctional guards and prison guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a prison guard has an average salary of $41,596, which is higher than the $37,889 average annual salary of a correctional guard.

The top three skills for a correctional guard include facility policy, security checks and emergency situations. The most important skills for a prison guard are security procedures, emergency situations, and incident reports.

Correctional guard vs prison guard overview

Correctional GuardPrison Guard
Yearly salary$37,889$41,596
Hourly rate$18.22$20.00
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs18,34816,205
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%High School Diploma, 47%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Correctional guard vs prison guard salary

Correctional guards and prison guards have different pay scales, as shown below.

Correctional GuardPrison Guard
Average salary$37,889$41,596
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $48,000Between $30,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between correctional guard and prison guard education

There are a few differences between a correctional guard and a prison guard in terms of educational background:

Correctional GuardPrison Guard
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%High School Diploma, 47%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Correctional guard vs prison guard demographics

Here are the differences between correctional guards' and prison guards' demographics:

Correctional GuardPrison Guard
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 68.1% Female, 31.9%Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 19.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 2.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 15.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 2.0% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between correctional guard and prison guard duties and responsibilities

Correctional guard example responsibilities.

  • Aid inmates in their rehabilitation by scheduling work assignments, counseling, and educational opportunities.
  • Issue weapons and ammunition for transportation officers.

Prison guard example responsibilities.

  • Carry and operate various types of firearms as necessary and under authorization outside the facility.
  • Perform basic first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation which involves kneeling and bending.

Correctional guard vs prison guard skills

Common correctional guard skills
  • Facility Policy, 29%
  • Security Checks, 21%
  • Emergency Situations, 21%
  • Clinical Treatment, 17%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Vital Signs, 2%
Common prison guard skills
  • Security Procedures, 28%
  • Emergency Situations, 18%
  • Incident Reports, 9%
  • Security Checks, 9%
  • Correctional Facility, 7%
  • CPR, 6%

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