Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitating law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.
Is probation officers and correctional treatment specialists a good career?
It scores 17/100 and ranks #449 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays above the U.S. median wage ($66,270)
Possible tradeoffs
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.6%)
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
What probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earn between $54,250 and $84,780 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live probation officers and correctional treatment specialists jobs
No live probation officers and correctional treatment specialists openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified probation officers and correctional treatment specialists openings will appear here — each shown against the $66,270 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a probation officers and correctional treatment specialist
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor's degree. Common fields of degree include criminal justice or a related security and protective service field, social science, or psychology. Requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Training
Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must complete a training program sponsored by their state or local government or the federal government, after which they may have to pass a certification test. In addition, they may be required to work as trainees for up to 1 year before being offered a permanent position.
Some probation officers and correctional treatment specialists focus on a certain type of casework. For example, an officer may deal only with domestic violence probationers or with substance abuse cases; others work only on cases involving juvenile offenders. Officers and specialists receive training to prepare them to work with the type of client their casework involves.
Advancement
Advancement to supervisory positions is based primarily on experience and performance. A master’s degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology may be helpful for advancing.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to effectively convey information to different types of people, including clients and their families, lawyers, judges, and treatment providers.
Critical-thinking skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to assess clients’ needs to determine the best resources for helping them.
Decision-making skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must consider the best rehabilitation plan for clients.
Interpersonal skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to develop relationships with different types of people, including those who may be hostile or challenging.
Organizational skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to manage multiple cases at the same time.
Related occupations
How much do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists make?
The national median wage is $66,270 a year, with the middle half earning between $54,250 and $84,780 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is probation officers and correctional treatment specialists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 17 of 100 and ranks #449 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.6% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a probation officers and correctional treatment specialist?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Where do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earn the most?
Among states, California pays the highest median ($103,640). Local pay for every state and metro is below.