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Probation officer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$66,270median pay per year, or $31.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,840lowest 10% earn less
  2. $54,25025th percentile
  3. $66,270median
  4. $84,78075th percentile
  5. $107,790top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists had a median pay of $66,270 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3%[2]
Openings per year
7,900[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do probation officers make?

The median pay for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $66,270 a year, or $31.86 an hour[1]. The median splits workers into two equal groups, with half paid above it and half below[1]. The average was $73,130 a year, or $35.16 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[4].

Pay covers a wide range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,840, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $107,790[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $46,840 $22.52
25th[3][9] $54,250 $26.08
50th (median)[1] $66,270 $31.86
75th[3][9] $84,780 $40.76
90th[3][9] $107,790 $51.82

These wages cover workers paid a wage or salary, whether part time or full time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median pay at $103,640, followed by Connecticut at $97,350 and Massachusetts at $94,590[11]. Mississippi had the lowest published state median at $34,110[11]. BLS published data for 46 states[11].

California also had the most jobs, at 13,900[12]. Texas had 8,100 and Florida had 4,490[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[13], San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA led on pay at $144,410. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $135,890, then Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $108,150[13]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs at 4,700, ahead of New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at 3,490 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX at 2,320[14].

Show median pay in 46 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[11]$103,64013,900
Connecticut$97,3501,200
Massachusetts$94,5901,200
Oregon$84,9201,260
Vermont$83,820190
Washington$82,7502,150
Delaware$81,880380
Minnesota$81,5802,040
New York$80,3504,360
New Jersey$80,2802,890
Michigan$79,7602,190
Iowa$77,390950
Alaska$77,000480
Maryland$76,3901,370
Nevada$75,840780
Illinois$74,3902,590
Hawaii$73,83040
Colorado$71,6802,540
Maine$71,140160
Pennsylvania$67,3704,310
South Dakota$66,870280
New Mexico$66,000620
North Dakota$65,140250
Nebraska$63,460560
Louisiana$62,910980
North Carolina$62,2203,310
Kansas$61,890760
Ohio$61,1203,310
Alabama$61,0501,080
Arizona$60,9101,100
Georgia$60,2702,650
Indiana$60,1702,270
Idaho$59,780760
Montana$59,750360
Kentucky$59,610830
Virginia$58,8202,730
Tennessee$58,0102,120
South Carolina$56,780460
Wyoming$56,580200
West Virginia$53,120890
Texas$52,8808,100
Arkansas$51,180850
Florida$50,9604,490
Oklahoma$50,380870
Missouri$46,8402,290
Mississippi$34,110150

How to become a probation officer

Candidates may also have to pass competency exams and drug tests, and clear a check of their criminal record[18]. A driver's license may be required, and some agencies set a minimum age of 21[19].

In an O*NET survey of 37 workers, 88% said a bachelor's degree was required for their job[20]. For moving up to a supervisor role, experience and performance matter most. A master's degree in a field such as criminal justice, social work or psychology may also be useful[21].

What probation officers do

Probation officers help with the rehabilitation of people on probation or parole, or in custody[22]. Typical tasks include:

Some officers focus on one type of casework, such as domestic violence, substance abuse or juvenile cases[24]. Job titles reported by workers include parole officer, correctional counselor and juvenile probation officer[25].

Where they work

State government is the largest employer, at 51% of jobs in 2025[26]. Most workers are full time. Some are on call at any hour to respond to issues with clients or law enforcement[27]. The job may involve frequent travel for home and work checks, property searches or court hearings, and meetings with clients often fall at nonstandard hours[28][29].

The work can be stressful. Court deadlines add pressure, and dealing with people who break supervision terms can be frustrating. Some officers carry a firearm or pepper spray for protection[30]. BLS also notes that the work can bring personal satisfaction from helping people in the community[31].

Job outlook

Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 93,700 to 96,500 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[32]. Those projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The wage survey counted about 89,390 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[33].

BLS projects about 7,900 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.5% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The pay sits above the median for all occupations, and it varies a lot by state[1][4][11]. The job needs a bachelor's degree and agency training, but no related work experience[6]. Growth is projected slightly below the rate for all occupations, though openings come from turnover too[2][32][5]. The work involves travel, nonstandard hours and some stress[30][29]. It may suit people who can build relationships with a wide range of clients, including some who are hostile or challenging[35].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a probation officer make an hour?
The median was $31.86 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $35.16 an hour[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a probation officer?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education. Common fields include criminal justice, social science and psychology[6][15].
How long does it take to become a probation officer?
The facts do not give the length of a degree. Some agencies use a trainee period of up to 1 year[17].
Is probation officer a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][32].
What is the highest paying state for probation officers?
California had the highest median at $103,640 in May 2025[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists in the US was $66,270 per year and $31.86 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 93,700 to 96,500 jobs (a change of +2,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: 10th percentile $46,840, 25th percentile $54,250, 75th percentile $84,780, 90th percentile $107,790. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,900 openings for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists was $73,130 per year and $35.16 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: 10th percentile $22.52, 25th percentile $26.08, 75th percentile $40.76, 90th percentile $51.82. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists jobs: California 13,900; Texas 8,100; Florida 4,490; New York 4,360; Pennsylvania 4,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $144,410; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $135,890; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $108,150; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $100,690; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $98,100; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $97,410; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $97,350; Waterbury-Shelton, CT $97,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,700 (median $108,150); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,490 (median $79,370); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,320 (median $51,820); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,890 (median $74,310); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,560 (median $67,610); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,340 (median $59,170). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 21-1092.00 survey of workers (37 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 88%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 21-1092.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adult Probation Officer, Correctional Counselor, Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Juvenile Probation Officer, Parole Agent, Parole Officer (PO), Probation Agent, Probation and Parole Officer. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in 2025: State government, excluding education and hospitals 51%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 89,390 people were employed as Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: 2.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.