Correctional guard demographics and statistics in the US
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Correctional guard demographics by:
Correctional guard gender statistics
31.9% of correctional guards are women and 68.1% of correctional guards are men.
- Male, 68.1%
- Female, 31.9%
Correctional guard gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 68.1% |
| Female | 31.9% |
Correctional guard gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,475
Female income
$35,935
Correctional guard gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in correctional guard positions over time. Currently, 31.9% of correctional guards are female.
Correctional guard gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.87% | 33.13% |
| 2011 | 67.52% | 32.48% |
| 2012 | 67.83% | 32.17% |
| 2013 | 68.54% | 31.46% |
| 2014 | 70.00% | 30.00% |
| 2015 | 67.97% | 32.03% |
| 2016 | 68.80% | 31.20% |
| 2017 | 67.13% | 32.87% |
| 2018 | 69.16% | 30.84% |
| 2019 | 67.99% | 32.01% |
| 2020 | 68.61% | 31.39% |
| 2021 | 68.13% | 31.87% |
Correctional guard related jobs gender ratio
We compared correctional guards with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, deputy sheriff-k9 handler and fugitive investigator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Matron | 8% | 92% |
| Deputy Treasurer | 19% | 81% |
| Unemployment Examiner | 29% | 71% |
| Correctional Guard | 68% | 32% |
| Town Marshal | 96% | 4% |
| Fugitive Investigator | 97% | 3% |
| Deputy Sheriff-K9 Handler | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Correctional guard demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among correctional guards is White, which makes up 58.2% of all correctional guards. Comparatively, 19.7% of correctional guards are Black or African American and 14.2% of correctional guards are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 58.2%
- Black or African American, 19.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.2%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- Asian, 2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Correctional guard race
| Correctional guard race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.2% |
| Black or African American | 19.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.2% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| Asian | 2.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Correctional guard race and ethnicity over time
See how correctional guard racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Correctional guard race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.39% | 20.79% | 0.97% | 10.84% |
| 2011 | 64.27% | 21.26% | 0.89% | 10.98% |
| 2012 | 65.09% | 21.02% | 1.49% | 9.73% |
| 2013 | 64.35% | 20.82% | 1.17% | 10.83% |
| 2014 | 63.99% | 21.58% | 1.00% | 10.72% |
| 2015 | 63.68% | 20.35% | 1.07% | 12.33% |
| 2016 | 64.17% | 19.37% | 1.44% | 12.66% |
| 2017 | 63.26% | 19.49% | 1.17% | 13.24% |
| 2018 | 62.30% | 19.55% | 1.59% | 13.56% |
| 2019 | 63.64% | 19.60% | 1.46% | 12.80% |
| 2020 | 61.69% | 17.71% | 1.36% | 13.39% |
| 2021 | 58.21% | 19.73% | 1.97% | 14.18% |
Correctional guard wage gap by race
According to our data, asian correctional guards have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american correctional guards have the lowest average salary at $37,049.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,088 |
| White | $38,905 |
| Black or African American | $37,049 |
| Asian | $39,201 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,176 |
Average correctional guard age
See how the average age of correctional guards varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Correctional guard age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 44 | 42 |
| Unknown | 40 | 34 |
| Asian | 41 | 40 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 39 |
| White | 39 | 40 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 41 |
Correctional guard age breakdown
The average age of correctional guards is 40+ years years old, representing 50% of the correctional guard population.
Correctional guard age breakdown
| Correctional Guard Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 50% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 19% |
Correctional guard educational attainment
The most common degree for correctional guards is high school diploma, with 36% of correctional guards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 23%.
- High School Diploma, 36%
- Associate, 23%
- Bachelor's, 23%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 13%
Correctional guards by degree level
| Correctional guard degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 36% |
| Associate | 23% |
| Bachelor's | 23% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 13% |
Correctional guard jobs you might like
Correctional guard wage gap by degree level
According to the data, correctional guards with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $40,161 annually. With a Associate degree, correctional guards earn a median annual income of $39,329 compared to $37,905 for correctional guards with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,905 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,161 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,329 |
Correctional guard employment statistics
Most correctional guards work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where correctional guards work
Below, you can see the size of companies where correctional guards work.
Correctional guard jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 27% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 12% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 23% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 8% |
| > 10,000 employees | 27% |
Correctional guard jobs by company type
Employees with the correctional guard job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most correctional guards prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Correctional guard jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 50% |
| Government | 33% |
Correctional guard jobs by industry
The most common industries for correctional guards are government, professional and non profits.
Correctional guard industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 31% |
| Professional | 19% |
| Non Profits | 8% |
| Health Care | 8% |
| Retail | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Utilities | 4% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Real Estate | 4% |
| Insurance | 4% |
Correctional guard turnover and employment statistics
Correctional guard unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for correctional guards between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Correctional guard unemployment rate by year
| Year | Correctional guard unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.76% |
| 2011 | 3.47% |
| 2012 | 2.86% |
| 2013 | 2.78% |
| 2014 | 2.06% |
| 2015 | 1.74% |
| 2016 | 1.76% |
| 2017 | 2.08% |
| 2018 | 2.10% |
| 2019 | 2.16% |
| 2020 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | 2.53% |
Average correctional guard tenure
The average correctional guard stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 182 correctional guards resumes in Zippia's database.
Correctional guard tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 27% |
| 1-2 years | 36% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Correctional guard LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of correctional guards that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Correctional Guard | 5.55% | - |
| K9 Police Officer | 7.15% | 76,156 |
| Senior Patrol Agent | 8.65% | 41,296 |
| Bailiff | 11.11% | 130 |
Similar correctional guard jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| K9 Police Officer | 7.15% | 76,156 |
| Senior Patrol Agent | 8.65% | 41,296 |
| Bailiff | 11.11% | 130 |