Career comparison
Correctional Officer vs. Police Officer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Police officers earn more at the median ($76,210 vs. $58,940), while correctional officers usually get to work faster (2–4 months (academy) of training). Correctional officers keep order and safety inside jails and prisons. Police officers protect communities, respond to calls, investigate crimes and enforce the law.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Correctional Officer | Police Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,940 ($28.34/hr) | $76,210 ($36.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $42,760 – $93,220 | $47,510 – $115,120 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.4% (a projected decline) | +3.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 28,400 | 51,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 2–4 months (academy) | 6–12 months (academy + field training) |
| Key credential | State corrections officer certification | State POST certification |
| Work setting | Officers work inside secure facilities that can be noisy, crowded and tense, with the risk of assault. | Officers work in patrol cars, on foot and at stations, in all weather and at all hours. |
What each job does
Correctional Officer
- Supervise people in housing units
- Conduct counts and security checks
- Search people, cells and areas for contraband
- Escort people within and outside the facility
- Respond to fights, disturbances and emergencies
Police Officer
- Patrol assigned areas and respond to calls for service
- Enforce traffic and criminal laws
- Investigate crimes, interview witnesses and collect evidence
- Make arrests and transport people in custody according to law and policy
- De-escalate conflicts and help people in crisis
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, shift work, high responsibility, and teamwork. Both are part of the public safety & security field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose correctional officer if…
- I can stay calm in tense situations
- I can be firm and fair
- I want public service work with good benefits
Choose police officer if…
- I want to serve and protect my community
- I can stay calm and make decisions under stress
- I have a clean record and strong integrity
Still torn? Take the Correctional Officer fit quiz and the Police Officer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, correctional officer or police officer?
Police Officers earn more at the median: $76,210 versus $58,940 for correctional officers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Correctional Officers typically train faster (2–4 months (academy)) than police officers (6–12 months (academy + field training)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects police officers to grow +3.5% from 2025–35, compared with -7.4% for correctional officers.