Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: Career Overview
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
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The Daily Work of Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists cover:
- Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
- Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
- Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
- Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
- Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
- Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seizure.
- Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
- Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful probation officers and correctional treatment specialists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adult Probation Officer
- Adult Probation and Parole Officer
- Attendance Officer
- Community Corrections Specialist
- Community Supervision Officer
- Correctional Case Manager
- Correctional Casework Specialist
- Correctional Counselor
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 35,217 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.8% over the projection horizon.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $40,804 |
| Hourly median | $19.62 |
| 10th percentile | $22,730 |
| 25th percentile | $31,767 |
| 75th percentile | $49,841 |
| 90th percentile | $58,878 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,050 |
| Connecticut | $94,600 |
| Massachusetts | $90,700 |
| Oregon | $82,970 |
| New York | $80,060 |
| Washington | $79,800 |
| Minnesota | $79,510 |
| Michigan | $79,230 |
| Iowa | $78,640 |
| New Jersey | $77,810 |
| Delaware | $75,810 |
| Utah | $74,860 |
| Vermont | $74,130 |
| Alaska | $73,570 |
| Maryland | $72,770 |
| Nevada | $71,840 |
| Hawaii | $71,330 |
| Illinois | $70,350 |
| Maine | $69,060 |
| District of Columbia | $68,750 |
| Colorado | $66,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,510 |
| North Dakota | $64,860 |
| New Mexico | $63,500 |
| Nebraska | $61,510 |
| Indiana | $60,920 |
| Wisconsin | $60,470 |
| North Carolina | $60,410 |
| Arizona | $60,250 |
| Ohio | $60,090 |
| Louisiana | $59,010 |
| Idaho | $58,950 |
| Alabama | $58,390 |
| Tennessee | $58,010 |
| Virginia | $57,010 |
| Wyoming | $56,940 |
| Kansas | $56,120 |
| South Carolina | $56,090 |
| Kentucky | $55,910 |
| Georgia | $54,490 |
| Texas | $51,900 |
| Florida | $50,540 |
| Oklahoma | $50,380 |
| West Virginia | $50,220 |
| Montana | $49,140 |
| Arkansas | $48,970 |
| Missouri | $45,390 |
| Mississippi | $32,500 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,581 | 20.4% | 1.25 |
| New England | $90,122 | 3.3% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $74,028 | 15.8% | 1.08 |
| Great Lakes | $66,498 | 12.8% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $65,161 | 5.1% | 1.29 |
| Plains States | $63,140 | 7.5% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $55,151 | 23.4% | 1.04 |
| Southwest | $53,458 | 11.8% | 0.94 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $139,550 | 530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $131,330 | 800 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $109,570 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $107,530 | 4,360 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $101,810 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $100,120 | 1,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $98,690 | 1,160 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $96,980 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,570 | $42,220 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 680 | $54,180 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 90 | $46,800 |
Below are examples of industries where probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work:
Tools and Technology
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level probation officers and correctional treatment specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Supplemental)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Short)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring probation officers and correctional treatment specialists often complete programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-1092.00 (Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists).
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