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Probation Officer

$64,520
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Supervise people on probation or parole, monitor conditions, and connect them to services.

Where you work

Courts, agency offices, and field visits.

The hours

Full-time, with some on-call and field hours

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$64,520
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~7,900
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+3%
About average
Working in the U.S.
92,300
people, nationwide

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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree + academy training.

License or certification

No license is required, though officers complete state-mandated training after hire.

What it takes

Case managementInterviewingReport writingRisk assessment

The honest take

A public-service role with a pension track, and real emotional weight in the caseload.

Standard Occupational Classification 21-1092. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.