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Prison guard vs detention deputy

The differences between prison guards and detention deputies can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a detention deputy has an average salary of $47,384, which is higher than the $41,596 average annual salary of a prison guard.

The top three skills for a prison guard include security procedures, emergency situations and incident reports. The most important skills for a detention deputy are transport inmates, booking, and CPR.

Prison guard vs detention deputy overview

Prison GuardDetention Deputy
Yearly salary$41,596$47,384
Hourly rate$20.00$22.78
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs16,2054,147
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Prison guard vs detention deputy salary

Prison guards and detention deputies have different pay scales, as shown below.

Prison GuardDetention Deputy
Average salary$41,596$47,384
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $56,000Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City-Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Wellpath
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between prison guard and detention deputy education

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

Prison GuardDetention Deputy
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Prison guard vs detention deputy demographics

Here are the differences between prison guards' and detention deputies' demographics:

Prison GuardDetention Deputy
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 73.0% Female, 27.0%Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.0% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between prison guard and detention deputy duties and responsibilities

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.

Detention deputy example responsibilities.

  • Train in grind control and self-defense techniques, CPR, ethics and security management.
  • Oversee all aspects of booking inmates into the jail, including property inventory, pat-down, fingerprinting, and processing daily.
  • Obtain necessary information and booking of prisoners.
  • Patrol assign areas for evidence of unauthorize activities, infractions of rules, unsatisfactory attitudes or unsatisfactory adjustment of inmates.
  • Serve as loader of special ammunition weapon; prepare ammunition while exercising safety precautions.

Prison guard vs detention deputy skills

Common prison guard skills
  • Security Procedures, 28%
  • Emergency Situations, 18%
  • Incident Reports, 9%
  • Security Checks, 9%
  • Correctional Facility, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
Common detention deputy skills
  • Transport Inmates, 14%
  • Booking, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Emergency Situations, 6%
  • Patrol, 6%
  • Detention Facility, 6%

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