First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: $78K vs $56K Median Pay

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: what changes?

Consider First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers if you want to directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers. Consider First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers if you would rather directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (less than 5 years) and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers and First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

National median pay (2025): $77,970
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,700

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers brief

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

National median pay (2025): $55,940
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is at 3.7% projected growth, compared with -2.5% projected growth for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers.

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers has the edge on median pay

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers is at $77,970, compared with $55,940 for First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers.

Typical preparation differs.

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers is at 6,800 annual openings, compared with 3,700 annual openings for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers.

46.2/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

56.5/ 100

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Dimension	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Median pay (2025)	$77,970	$55,940
Pay percentile	68.8 percentile	40.9 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-2.5%	3.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	3,700	6,800
2025 employment	56,300	82,700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers brief Read First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers brief

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

How the national numbers differ

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on projected growth

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers has the edge on annual openings

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

Try another comparison

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers vs First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives