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Job outlook for correctional sergeants in the United States
Correctional sergeant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected correctional sergeant job growth rate is -10% from 2018-2028.
About -42,200 new jobs for correctional sergeants are projected over the next decade.
Correctional sergeant salaries have increased 1% for correctional sergeants in the last 5 years.
There are over 30,046 correctional sergeants currently employed in the United States.
There are 72,839 active correctional sergeant job openings in the US.
The average correctional sergeant salary is $37,962.
Are correctional sergeant jobs in demand?
Correctional sergeant job and salary trends over time
Correctional sergeant jobs over time
Correctional sergeant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,046 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 29,467 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 25,611 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 24,138 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,322 | 0.01% |
Average correctional sergeant salary over time
Correctional sergeant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,962 | $18.25 | --4.4% |
| 2024 | $39,720 | $19.10 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $39,477 | $18.98 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $38,953 | $18.73 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $37,744 | $18.15 | +1.4% |
Correctional sergeant jobs by state
Most common states for correctional sergeants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 42 | 1% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 30 | 0% |
| 4 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 26 | 0% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 15 | 0% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 8 | 0% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 6 | 0% |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 5 | 0% |
| 9 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 3 | 0% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 1 | 0% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 1 | 0% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for correctional sergeants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Bluff | 1 | 2% | $31,530 |
| 2 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $31,452 |
| 3 | Kansas City | 1 | 0% | $34,180 |
Correctional Sergeant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of correctional sergeant experts
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Curry College
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorPennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
School of Public Affairs, Criminal Justice Program
What skills stand out on Correctional Sergeant resumes?
Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.: Police officers need many skills to be successful on the job. The most important are written and oral communication skills and the ability to make ethical decisions with limited information quickly. Written communications skills are crucial. If a police report is poorly worded or incomplete, it can derail a criminal case. Police officers also need to talk to people of all ages from all walks of life in any circumstance. Often, police meet people on what may be the worst day of their lives when emotions are running high. Police need to be able to help calm a person while gathering information. Police need to be able to use their words and body language to empathize with someone who has been victimized, and they need to project authority, so people making poor decisions obey their commands.
This may be common sense, but research has demonstrated that communication and ethical decision-making skills are important for police officers. (See the research article published in 2017 in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, entitled "An assessment of the relative importance of criminal justice learning objectives," by Baker and colleagues.) Baker and colleagues asked students, professionals, and college professors to rate the skills of hypothetical job applicants. These participants rated the following as the most important characteristics for criminal justice applicants (including law enforcement officers):
Ethics
Oral communication
Critical thinking
Sensitivity to diversity
Written communication skills
What will help Correctional Sergeants increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Balboni: It's certainly been said before, but soft skills-the ability to communicate effectively with different individuals and groups, as well as the ability to advocate for others--are key competencies in the justice field. Being able to communicate with others, as well as understand and empathize with others--is a vital skill in this field.
More technically, graduates who are able to navigate the virtual/digital world will be prepared to help agencies transition to build more permanent digital programming into the fields of corrections, courts, and law enforcement moving forward. The digital programming that has cropped up as a result of this pandemic is likely not going away entirely once the pandemic is more under control-people like the flexibility it provides. The same is true in the justice realm: virtual connections have been integrated in various processes, facilitating important connections between support services and folks involved in the justice system.
Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Department of Criminal Justice
What general advice would you give to a Correctional Sergeant?
Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.: They need to avoid being overzealous officers. They should not put their career at the center of their life. They need to spend quality time with their family. In law enforcement, good relations with the public and colleagues are essential. They need to develop good relationships with the people and their colleagues and expand their professional network. They always try to be a "problem solver officer" rather than a "problem creator officer." If someone asks for help from them, they should treat this person with dignity and respect. They should avoid being arrogant in their interaction with the public. Because arrogance is the worst plague, and Humility is the greatest virtue.