As of June 2026, Correctional Officers and Jailers has an AI-exposure score of 58/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Correctional Officers and Jailers
More exposed than 59% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$58,940. About 30,100 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Protective Service roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
- Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
- Settle disputes between inmates.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
- Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
- Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
- Participate in required job training.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
- Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
- Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
- Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as automatable (55%).
Safer adjacent roles
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Correctional Officers and Jailers — median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)
Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$58,940. More states are being added.