How Much Does a Parole Officer Make?
Are you interested in working with people who have recently been released from a correctional institution? Do you want to supervise and guide legal offenders in their quest for rehabilitation? If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be interested in becoming a parole officer. Continue reading to find out about parole officers, including their job and salary potential. Schools offering Corrections degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Parole Officer Defined
As a parole officer, you are assigned to supervise and provide guidance to individuals upon their release from prison. You ensure the offenders, called parolees, follow the terms of their release, which may include staying within a legal jurisdiction or not participating in specified activities. You'll regularly meet with your assigned parolees to check up on their job status, and their other activities. If they have court appointed sessions, like job training or rehabilitation, you'll make sure they're attending those appointments.
You may have to work long hours as a parole officer and you may be required to travel to meet with parolees at their homes or workplaces. In some cases, you may be required to carry a gun for your protection.
Salary Information
In May 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that parole officers made a mean annual wage of $50,500 and a mean hourly wage of $24.28 (www.bls.gov). The median hourly salary was $22.37 while the median annual income was $46,530. However, Salary.com reported in April 2011 that the median salary was $49,857 for parole officers.
According to the BLS, the top ten percent of parole officers made $37.91 or more an hour and $78,860 or more annually. Most parole officers are employed by government entities, including courts; In 2009, the top paying state was California, which had a yearly mean wage of $77,020 and a hourly mean salary of $37.03 for parole officers.
Job Outlook
The BLS noted that employment growth for parole officers was projected to be 19% from 2008 to 2018. This projection put parole officers growth at a faster than the average rate when compared to other vocations. The BLS also projected that job opportunities would be excellent due to the large number of prisoners who will need parole officers when their sentences are over.
The industries with the highest level of employment for parole officers were state governments, local governments, family services, facilities support services and residential care facilities. The states with the highest concentration of workers for parole officers were Delaware, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Vermont.
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