Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $66,270 | $31.86 |
| Mean (average) | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| 90th percentile | $107,790 | $51.82 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,050 | $42,300 | $84,270 | 1,080 | 0.89 |
| Alaska | $77,000 | $54,310 | $118,020 | 480 | 2.57 |
| Arizona | $60,910 | $45,790 | $80,380 | 1,100 | 0.59 |
| Arkansas | $51,180 | $37,030 | $63,750 | 850 | 1.13 |
| California | $103,640 | $64,820 | $140,950 | 13,900 | 1.33 |
| Colorado | $71,680 | $51,940 | $96,770 | 2,540 | 1.54 |
| Connecticut | $97,350 | $68,330 | $126,680 | 1,200 | 1.23 |
| Delaware | $81,880 | $56,260 | $102,000 | 380 | 1.38 |
| Florida | $50,960 | $38,350 | $64,940 | 4,490 | 0.79 |
| Georgia | $60,270 | $45,280 | $71,570 | 2,650 | 0.94 |
| Hawaii | $73,830 | $58,300 | $89,810 | 40 | 0.11 |
| Idaho | $59,780 | $47,470 | $77,210 | 760 | 1.54 |
| Illinois | $74,390 | $49,330 | $107,710 | 2,590 | 0.74 |
| Indiana | $60,170 | $43,610 | $81,160 | 2,270 | 1.23 |
| Iowa | $77,390 | $57,410 | $94,810 | 950 | 1.06 |
| Kansas | $61,890 | $49,480 | $76,110 | 760 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $59,610 | $54,070 | $69,000 | 830 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $62,910 | $44,230 | $85,060 | 980 | 0.88 |
| Maine | $71,140 | $53,790 | $73,990 | 160 | 0.43 |
| Maryland | $76,390 | $60,010 | $96,370 | 1,370 | 0.86 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 | $61,160 | $114,660 | 1,200 | 0.57 |
| Michigan | $79,760 | $55,900 | $83,180 | 2,190 | 0.86 |
| Minnesota | $81,580 | $56,650 | $104,150 | 2,040 | 1.2 |
| Mississippi | $34,110 | $28,640 | $50,730 | 150 | 0.22 |
| Missouri | $46,840 | $42,960 | $51,710 | 2,290 | 1.36 |
| Montana | $59,750 | $48,390 | $74,280 | 360 | 1.23 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | $42,540 | $81,370 | 560 | 0.95 |
| Nevada | $75,840 | $54,720 | $95,150 | 780 | 0.88 |
| New Jersey | $80,280 | $52,210 | $107,790 | 2,890 | 1.17 |
| New Mexico | $66,000 | $54,640 | $86,240 | 620 | 1.23 |
| New York | $80,350 | $54,560 | $102,810 | 4,360 | 0.78 |
| North Carolina | $62,220 | $45,410 | $75,180 | 3,310 | 1.17 |
| North Dakota | $65,140 | $51,200 | $80,330 | 250 | 1.02 |
| Ohio | $61,120 | $46,480 | $79,640 | 3,310 | 1.04 |
| Oklahoma | $50,380 | $38,310 | $62,980 | 870 | 0.88 |
| Oregon | $84,920 | $62,960 | $107,400 | 1,260 | 1.12 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,370 | $48,340 | $89,750 | 4,310 | 1.24 |
| South Carolina | $56,780 | $51,110 | $84,710 | 460 | 0.35 |
| South Dakota | $66,870 | $58,760 | $78,540 | 280 | 1.06 |
| Tennessee | $58,010 | $45,610 | $69,470 | 2,120 | 1.12 |
| Texas | $52,880 | $46,020 | $74,290 | 8,100 | 1 |
| Vermont | $83,820 | $64,730 | $98,160 | 190 | 1.06 |
| Virginia | $58,820 | $46,320 | $77,010 | 2,730 | 1.15 |
| Washington | $82,750 | $69,600 | $104,260 | 2,150 | 1.06 |
| West Virginia | $53,120 | $37,640 | $73,190 | 890 | 2.21 |
| Wyoming | $56,580 | $48,010 | $74,060 | 200 | 1.23 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Social Work CIP 44.0701
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Appointment scheduling software
- Case management software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Court records databases
- Electronic tracking device software
- Email software
- Speech recognition software
- Tyler Technologies Odyssey Case Manager
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Adult Probation Officer, Correctional Counselor, Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Juvenile Probation Officer, Parole Agent, Parole Officer (PO), Probation Agent, Probation and Parole Officer, Probation Counselor, Probation Officer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists make?
The national median annual wage for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $66,270 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,840 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $107,790. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is probation officers and correctional treatment specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists to change +3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay probation officers and correctional treatment specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($103,640), Connecticut ($97,350), Massachusetts ($94,590). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.