Occupation · SOC 33-1011
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
Median wage
$76,310
$50,340–$125,170
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
53,390
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
455 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationSpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementPsychologyEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public.Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.Carry injured offenders or employees to safety and provide emergency first aid when necessary.Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.Supervise activities, such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.Conduct roll calls of correctional officers.Instruct employees or provide on-the-job training.Resolve problems between inmates.Examine incoming or outgoing mail to ensure conformance with regulations.Set up employee work schedules.Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.Develop work or security procedures.Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.Convey correctional officers' or inmates' complaints to superiors.Supervise or provide security for offenders performing tasks, such as construction, maintenance, laundry, food service, or other industrial or agricultural operations.Conduct evaluations of employees' performance.Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Inmate counts — conduct and record under direct supervisory guidance during scheduled intervals on a correctional housing unit.Institutional policies and regulations — read, reference, and apply basic rules under close oversight in a correctional facility setting.Order and discipline — recognize and report behavioral violations to senior staff in accordance with established facility protocols.Contraband searches — assist senior officers in performing searches of inmate quarters following prescribed search procedures.Emergency response procedures — follow step-by-step protocols during drills and minor incidents under the direction of a supervising officer.Correctional officer work — observe and assist in monitoring assigned officers' activities while learning supervisory expectations on shift.Inmate behavior patterns — identify and document observable changes in demeanor or conduct using standardized reporting forms.Use-of-force regulations — demonstrate awareness of authorized chemical agents and restraint tools under close supervisory instruction.Incident reports — draft basic written accounts of events using approved facility formats with guidance from senior supervisors.Database and office software — enter shift data, counts, and basic records into facility information systems under direct instruction.
developing
Periodic inmate counts — independently conduct, verify, and reconcile headcounts across assigned areas in accordance with facility count schedules.Facility rules and regulations — apply and enforce institutional policies consistently across routine situations with minimal supervisory oversight.Officer conduct monitoring — observe and address subordinate behavior to ensure professional, courteous treatment of inmates and visitors during daily operations.Contraband searches — plan and lead searches of inmate persons and quarters, applying standard search techniques and documenting findings accurately.Emergency response — coordinate initial response actions during escapes or disturbances, directing correctional officers to assigned positions per facility protocols.Inmate discipline and welfare — balance custody requirements with inmate welfare considerations, resolving routine behavioral issues through de-escalation techniques.Shift documentation — prepare accurate shift logs, use-of-force reports, and personnel records using word processing and spreadsheet software.Personnel coordination — assign correctional officers to posts and adjust staffing coverage to maintain security levels during a standard facility shift.Critical incidents — apply deductive reasoning to assess developing situations and recommend appropriate escalation to facility management in a timely manner.Applicable law and policy — interpret relevant sections of correctional law and administrative regulations to guide day-to-day supervisory decisions.
proficient
Inmate count accountability — design and oversee a reliable count verification system across multiple housing units, identifying discrepancies and initiating corrective action autonomously.Security and order maintenance — enforce institutional rules and manage non-routine behavioral incidents across the full scope of assigned areas without requiring supervisory direction.Officer performance supervision — evaluate correctional officer conduct, provide real-time feedback, and document performance concerns in compliance with personnel management standards.Complex contraband operations — lead multi-area search operations, adapting techniques based on intelligence and risk assessment in a medium- to large-scale correctional institution.Emergency command — assume on-scene command during escapes, riots, or medical emergencies, coordinating multi-unit responses and liaising with law enforcement or medical personnel.Use of force — authorize and oversee deployment of restraints, chemical agents, or other approved force options, ensuring legal compliance and post-incident documentation.Staff development — identify training needs of individual correctional officers and implement on-the-job coaching plans to improve knowledge and professional conduct.Problem solving under pressure — apply complex problem-solving skills to resolve novel security threats or staffing crises, weighing risk factors and resource constraints simultaneously.Interdepartmental coordination — collaborate with classification, mental health, and administrative units to address inmate welfare and security concerns through integrated correctional strategies.Policy compliance reporting — analyze shift data, identify systemic issues, and produce detailed reports for facility administrators using office suite and database tools.
advanced
Institutional security strategy — establish facility-wide security protocols and staffing models that align with regulatory requirements and organizational safety goals across all shifts and units.Supervisory workforce development — design and deliver training programs that elevate supervisory competency throughout the correctional officer ranks in alignment with institutional standards.Policy and regulatory leadership — lead review and revision of institutional policies, ensuring compliance with evolving laws and government mandates at the division or facility level.Emergency management framework — develop and exercise comprehensive emergency response plans covering escape, riot, and critical incident scenarios for the entire correctional facility.Organizational culture — model and champion integrity, self-control, and stress tolerance as professional standards, shaping the conduct norms of the entire supervisory team.Personnel resource management — direct allocation, scheduling, and performance management of a multi-unit correctional officer workforce to achieve optimal security and operational outcomes.Cross-agency collaboration — represent the facility in coordination with law enforcement, courts, and community stakeholders to advance public safety and correctional best practices.Systems analysis and improvement — evaluate facility-wide security systems, identify operational gaps, and lead data-driven process improvements using advanced reporting and database tools.Leadership under crisis — exercise decisive command authority during high-stakes, multi-agency incidents, maintaining control of personnel and information flow in complex correctional environments.Mentorship and succession planning — identify high-potential supervisors, provide structured mentorship, and build a pipeline of qualified correctional leaders prepared for increased responsibility.
Also known as
75 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Critical Skills Operator (Marine Corps 0372)Prison Guard SupervisorLight Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Operations Chief (Marine Corps 0393)Correction Officer SupervisorInfantry Unit Leader (Marine Corps 0369)Human Intelligence Specialist Apprentice (Air Force 1N731)Special Investigations (Air Force 7S0X1)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Craftsman (Air Force 1Z371)Ward SupervisorM1 Armor Crewman (Army 19K)Jailer, ChiefMilitary Police (Marine Corps 5811)Special Forces Operations Sergeant (Army 18Z)Corrections LieutenantSecurity Forces (Air Force 3P0X1)Human Intelligence Specialist (Air Force 1N7X1)Marine Safety Specialist Response (Coast Guard MSSR)Master-At-Arms (Navy MA)Juvenile Justice SupervisorSpecial Investigations Helper (Air Force 7S011)LDO - Security (Navy 649)Unit ManagerCorrectional CaptainExpeditionary Force Detainee/Confinement Operations - Deployed (Navy 807G)Special Investigations Superintendent (Air Force 7S091)Correction and Detention Specialist (Marine Corps 5831)Commissary ManagerCorrectional Program SupervisorMarine Safety Specialist Deck (Coast Guard MSSD)Detention SupervisorGuard ChiefAfloat Corrections Specialist (Navy P08A)Special Investigations Craftsman (Air Force 7S071)Human Intelligence Specialist Craftsman (Air Force 1N771)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice (Air Force 1Z331)Correctional SupervisorOperations Chief (Marine Corps 0399)Marine Safety Specialist Engineer (Coast Guard MSSE)Investigations (Coast Guard INV)Guard Supervisor