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Public Safety

First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

Annual openings

100

Median wage

$81,460

Typical education

No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a Correctional Officer is expected.

Growth 2026–2032

+10%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a Correctional Officer is expected.

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Credential detail

No additional credential beyond that needed as a Correctional Officer is expected.

Work experience

2-5 years work experience in Corrections is expected.

Employer competency information

Feedback from employers identifies the following competencies as being critical to support a successful move up to the Supervisor level

  • Communication — Continue to elevate communication skills for use with a team, client, and boss.
  • Teamwork — Consistently demonstrate the ability to work with, influence, and lead others.
  • Planning & Organizing — Strong time management skills with the ability to plan and organize the successful completion of tasks and projects for a team, adapting the plan to changing circumstances.
  • Instructing & Coaching — Move beyond being good at your job to being able to help other team members understand and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful at their jobs.
  • Working with tools and technology — Effectively utilize the tools and technology specific to your team.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
  2. Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
  3. Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
  4. Supervise activities, such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
  5. Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.
  6. Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.
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