Occupation · SOC 33-3011
Bailiffs
Maintain order in courts of law.
Median wage
$57,050
$32,950–$93,950
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
16,910
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
340 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessSpeakingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingService OrientationReading ComprehensionPersuasionCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingNegotiationActive LearningManagement of Personnel ResourcesWritingInstructingLearning StrategiesOperations MonitoringSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisSystems EvaluationOperation and ControlMathematicsManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingOperations AnalysisScienceRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsTelecommunicationsPersonnel and Human ResourcesSociology and AnthropologyTherapy and CounselingTransportationMathematicsCommunications and MediaPhilosophy and TheologyGeographyEconomics and AccountingForeign LanguageMechanicalProduction and ProcessingHistory and ArcheologySales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryChemistryDesignBiologyFood ProductionBuilding and ConstructionEngineering and TechnologyPhysicsFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatCase management system softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteCourt docket management softwareEmail softwareIBM Lotus NotesMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordNational Crime Information Center (NCIC) databaseState crime information databasesStatistics softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicAssisting and Caring for OthersGetting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCoaching and Developing OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkWorking with ComputersTraining and Teaching OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersThinking CreativelyDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesSelling or Influencing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Magnetometers and X-ray machines — operate under direct supervision to screen persons entering a courthouse for unauthorized firearms and contraband.Courtroom rules and procedures — recognize and communicate basic behavioral expectations to members of the public under supervisor guidance.Prisoner escort protocols — follow established procedures to accompany detained individuals to and from courthouse holding areas with senior officer oversight.Courthouse patrol routes — complete assigned interior and exterior security rounds using provided checklists under direct supervision.Jury security basics — assist senior bailiffs in maintaining physical separation of sequestered jurors from outside contact.Radio and communication devices — use to relay requests for police or medical assistance to the sheriff's office when directed.Active listening skills — apply to receive and accurately follow verbal instructions from supervising officers in a courtroom environment.Incident observation — identify and report unusual behavior or potential security threats to a supervising bailiff during court proceedings.Arrest warrant documentation — recognize and review basic warrant information under supervision before assisting with an in-court arrest.Document management software — enter basic daily security logs and incident reports into courthouse records systems with supervisor review.
developing
Security screening equipment — conduct routine magnetometer and X-ray screening of courthouse entrants with minimal oversight, resolving common anomalies independently.Prisoner custody procedures — manage transport and in-courtroom custody of prisoners during proceedings with reduced direct supervision, applying established protocols consistently.Courtroom order maintenance — enforce behavioral rules and warn individuals against disruptive conduct or smoking during active trials with confidence and professionalism.Judge and court employee escorts — coordinate safe movement of judges and court staff through courthouse corridors, adapting routes to emerging security conditions.Sequestered jury supervision — independently guard jury lodging overnight or during extended sequestration, monitoring for unauthorized contact.In-court arrests — execute arrests of individuals for whom valid warrants have been issued during court sessions, applying appropriate restraint techniques.Social perceptiveness — assess demeanor and behavioral cues of courtroom visitors to identify potential disruptions before they escalate in a busy courthouse environment.Sheriff's office coordination — initiate and communicate requests for police or medical assistance promptly and accurately during courtroom incidents.Time management — prioritize competing security duties across multiple courtrooms or court floors within a single shift schedule.Database and scheduling software — maintain and query court security records, scheduling assignments, and case-related documentation in courthouse information systems.
proficient
Contraband interdiction — autonomously manage full security screening operations at courthouse entry points, handling non-routine cases such as concealed items or medical exceptions.Complex prisoner management — oversee custody and transport of high-risk or multiple prisoners across courthouse facilities, anticipating and mitigating security risks throughout proceedings.Courtroom security assessment — evaluate physical layout, attendee profiles, and case sensitivity to implement tailored security plans for high-profile or volatile trials.Jury integrity protection — design and enforce comprehensive protocols preventing unauthorized contact with sequestered juries across extended and complex trial situations.In-court use-of-force decisions — apply independent judgment and decision-making to determine appropriate responses when individuals resist arrest or create disturbances during proceedings.Critical incident response — coordinate immediate response to medical emergencies, threats, or disturbances in the courthouse, directing staff and liaising with law enforcement agencies.Behavioral threat recognition — apply advanced social perceptiveness and inductive reasoning to identify and neutralize potential threats before they reach the courtroom.Legal and policy compliance — interpret and apply relevant law, government regulations, and court rules to non-routine security scenarios without supervisory consultation.Written documentation — produce detailed, legally sound incident reports and arrest records using courthouse document management and word processing systems for court record purposes.Multi-agency communication — serve as the primary liaison between courthouse security staff, the sheriff's office, and judicial personnel during complex or prolonged security situations.
advanced
Courthouse security program — lead design and implementation of comprehensive security policies covering screening, prisoner management, and judicial protection across an entire court facility.Staff training and development — develop and deliver structured training curricula on courtroom safety, screening technology, and legal protocols for new and incumbent bailiff staff.Strategic threat assessment — apply deductive and inductive reasoning at an organizational level to evaluate systemic vulnerabilities and direct facility-wide security improvements.Policy and standards leadership — author and revise courthouse security procedures, ensuring alignment with evolving public safety regulations, case law, and government directives.Cross-agency collaboration — build and sustain formal partnerships with law enforcement agencies, judicial administration, and emergency services to enhance integrated courthouse security.Performance oversight — monitor and evaluate bailiff staff performance across shifts and assignments, providing feedback and corrective action to maintain consistent security standards.High-profile trial planning — lead security coordination for high-visibility or sensitive court cases, managing resource allocation, media protocols, and threat mitigation at an executive level.Technology adoption — evaluate, recommend, and oversee implementation of new security screening and information management technologies to modernize courthouse operations.Budget and resource management — manage staffing levels, equipment procurement, and scheduling resources to sustain security operations within organizational budget constraints.Organizational culture of integrity — model and institutionalize values of dependability, self-control, and ethical conduct, shaping a security workforce culture aligned with judicial system expectations.
Also known as
18 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Armed BailiffBailiffBailiff DeputyCity BailiffCounty BailiffCourt BailiffCourt ConstableCourt DeputyCourt OfficerCourt Security OfficerCourtroom DeputyDeputy BailiffDeputy Court Services SheriffDistrict Court BailiffGrand Jury Deputy SheriffJudicial MarshalSecurity OfficerSergeant at Arms