Supervise people on probation or parole, monitor conditions, and connect them to services.
You may also see this posted as: Correctional Counselor, Juvenile Probation Officer, Parole Officer (PO), Adult Probation Officer, Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Parole Agent.
Courts, agency offices, and field visits.
Full-time, with some on-call and field hours
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
O*NET job zone 4 of 5
High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Bachelor's degree + academy training.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
No license is required, though officers complete state-mandated training after hire.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
A public-service role with a pension track, and real emotional weight in the caseload.
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Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
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Standard Occupational Classification 21-1092. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.