Marriage & Family Therapist
Median wage · national
$66,940
Range: $50K – $94K
Employed
67K
Openings/yr
8K
Typically: master's degree
BUSINESS
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists earn $66,270 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $54,250 and $84,780. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
- Median Wage
- $66,270
- Employed Nationally
- 89K
- Openings / Year
- 7,900
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Adult Probation and Parole Officer
Adult Probation Officer
Attendance Officer
Community Corrections Specialist
Community Supervision Officer
How Much Do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Make?
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists earn $66,270 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $54,250 and $84,780. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$66,270
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$54K–$85K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$54,250
Entry-level
$66,270
Median
$84,780
Experienced
What Do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists?
The BLS projects +2.6% employment change for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 7,900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +2.6%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Slower than average.
7,900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
89K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $66,270 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12,950 | $107,050 | +61.5% |
| 2 | Texas | 7,490 | $51,900 | -21.7% |
| 3 | New York | 4,420 | $80,060 | +20.8% |
| 4 | Florida | 4,360 | $50,540 | -23.7% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4,240 | $65,510 | -1.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 59,381 | $51,790 | 850 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 91 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Pros & Cons
The data on Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists shows 1 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $66,270 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +2.6% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $66,270 median while building the experience employers require.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists is $66,270, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $54,250 and $84,780. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $66,270 median, though slow job growth means most openings come from workers leaving the field rather than new positions being created. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Social Work are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $66,270 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists?
The BLS projects +2.6% employment change for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists through 2034, slower than average compared to all occupations. About 7,900 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 89K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Thinking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
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- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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