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What is a custodial officer and how to become one
Correctional institutions employ custodial officers to supervise inmates in detention facilities. They are there to provide care and correctional treatment for inmates, manage the spaces of the facility, and ensure that the inmates stay in custody.
Working in this position, you will escort inmates from one secured area to another, acting according to the policies and legal regulations applying to practices in the facility. It will be your responsibility to upkeep the level of security, search inmates and visitors, and check mail and cells for weapons, drugs, and other illegal items.
You will have to document and report incidents and enforce rules governing the security of the facility. A high school diploma and relevant training qualifications prescribed by the state and the institution you work for will be necessary to take on this position. You will need to be patient and alert, decisive, and level-headed to hold this position with success. Great communication and negotiation skills are also essential, along with an affinity for solving problems.
Avg. Salary $42,867
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate -10%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.95%
Asian 2.03%
Black or African American 15.82%
Hispanic or Latino 19.17%
Unknown 5.26%
White 56.77%
Genderfemale 36.76%
male 63.24%
Age - 40American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 40Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
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Custodial Officer career paths
Key steps to become a custodial officer
Explore custodial officer education requirements
Start to develop specific custodial officer skills
Skills 
Percentages Emergency Calls 22.68% Security Checks 16.17% Law Enforcement 11.93% Communication Systems 9.65% Booking 7.45% Complete relevant custodial officer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New custodial officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a custodial officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real custodial officer resumes.Research custodial officer duties and responsibilities
- Watch CCTV cameras and control security doors.
- Conduct rounds, answer phones and monitor the CCTV.
- Maintain booking and release records, Huber accounts, and property records.
- Assist officers in the booking of suspects; searching, fingerprinting, transporting.
Prepare your custodial officer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your custodial officer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a custodial officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Custodial Officer Resume templates
Build a professional Custodial Officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Custodial Officer resume.
Apply for custodial officer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a custodial officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Custodial Officer Job
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Average custodial officer salary
The average Custodial Officer salary in the United States is $42,867 per year or $21 per hour. Custodial officer salaries range between $31,000 and $58,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do custodial officers rate their job?
Custodial Officer reviews
The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes
I don't like jumping shifts day to night and so forth. it tends to mess up the internal clock.
Updated January 8, 2025
