The map below shows you the number of prison officer job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where prison officers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market. Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.We spoke to prison officer professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the prison officer job market for recent graduates is heading and how young graduates entering the prison officer industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.

We spoke to prison officer professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the prison officer job market for recent graduates is heading and how young graduates entering the prison officer industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.

No, prison officer jobs are not in demand. Prison officer demand is projected to decline -10% from 2018 to 2028.

Prison Officer

1,159

1,040

4,281

1,346

1,107

Zippia Careers

Protective Service Industry

Prison Officers

What is a prison officer?

Overview

Prison officer jobs

Jobs

Prison officer skills

Skills

Prison officer demographics

Demographics

Best companies for prison officers

Best Companies

Prison officer trends

Job Outlook

Prison officer comparisons

Compare

Full time jobs

Part time jobs

Entry level jobs

right-to-work

relocation

Year	# of jobs	% of population
2021	231	0.00%
2020	239	0.00%
2019	249	0.00%
2018	244	0.00%
2017	253	0.00%

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$43,925	$21.12	+4.9%
2024	$41,859	$20.12	+1.9%
2023	$41,071	$19.75	+1.8%
2022	$40,339	$19.39	+1.7%
2021	$39,672	$19.07	+5.7%

Rank	State	Population	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl
1	Idaho	1,716,943	306	18%
2	Massachusetts	6,859,819	1,159	17%
3	Minnesota	5,576,606	959	17%
4	Rhode Island	1,059,639	177	17%
5	North Dakota	755,393	125	17%
6	New Hampshire	1,342,795	185	14%
7	Nebraska	1,920,076	246	13%
8	South Dakota	869,666	113	13%
9	Vermont	623,657	83	13%
10	New Jersey	9,005,644	1,040	12%
11	Maryland	6,052,177	756	12%
12	Colorado	5,607,154	691	12%
13	Iowa	3,145,711	391	12%
14	California	39,536,653	4,281	11%
15	Illinois	12,802,023	1,346	11%
16	North Carolina	10,273,419	1,107	11%
17	Arizona	7,016,270	780	11%
18	Nevada	2,998,039	322	11%
19	New Mexico	2,088,070	230	11%
20	Maine	1,335,907	143	11%

Job outlook for prison officers in the United States

Are prison officer jobs in demand?

Prison officer job and salary trends over time

Prison officer jobs over time

Prison officer job growth rate over time

Average prison officer salary over time

Prison officer salary by year

Prison officer jobs by state

Most common states for prison officers

Prison officer jobs