Probation Officer Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Many colleges and universities provide degrees in criminal justice, psychology and social work.
Training and Education
Workers are generally expected to have a bachelor's degree. About 58% of employees hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 26% of probation officers have some college education, though not a degree. About 16% of workers were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Probation officers oversee offenders sentenced to probation and parolees. Probation officers help clients rehabilitate by offering them counseling and by helping them obtain an education, housing and a job. Parole officers meet with their clients on a regular basis in order to evaluate their progress and learn about their activities.
Job Requirements
Probation officers are usually required to have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, psychology, social work or a related subject. Some employers prefer applicants who have a master's degree.
Most probation officers are required to complete a training program sponsored by the federal government or their state government. After they complete the training program they may have to take a certification test.
Nature of Work
- Write pre-sentence reports for judges
- Investigate violations of court-ordered sentences
- Provide reports to the courts regarding their client's behavior
- Develop and maintain a case folder for each offender
Area Job Conditions
Employees are relatively common in Cumberland (Maryland), Pocatello (Idaho), and Tucson (Arizona). They are rarer in New Orleans (Louisiana), Huntington (West Virginia), and Austin (Texas).
Probation officers are paid highest in Riverside (California), Fresno (California), and Hartford (Connecticut), and lowest in Jonesboro (Arkansas), Tulsa (Oklahoma), and Johnson City (Tennessee).
Part-Time and Self Employment
About 12% of probation officers work less than full-time.
Career Videos
Probation Officers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 230 | +51% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingman | $42,000 | 120 | +838% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $36,000 | 250 | +135% |
| Pine Bluff | $36,000 | 70 | +793% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $82,000 | 670 | +746% |
| Oakland | $78,000 | 840 | +170% |
| Riverside | $79,000 | 1,180 | +214% |
| Santa Barbara | $29,000 | 230 | +359% |
| Yuba City | $61,000 | 110 | +987% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $50,000 | 100 | +119% |
| Colorado Springs | $59,000 | 190 | +148% |
| Denver | $52,000 | 1,120 | +187% |
| Pueblo | $54,000 | 100 | +538% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $54,000 | 1,020 | +34% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Walton Beach | $38,000 | 60 | +178% |
| Jacksonville | $37,000 | 310 | +66% |
| Miami | $39,000 | 460 | +50% |
| Orlando | $39,000 | 480 | +51% |
| Panama City | $40,000 | 80 | +315% |
| Pensacola | $38,000 | 170 | +285% |
| Port St Lucie | $39,000 | 120 | +244% |
| Sarasota | $38,000 | 130 | +74% |
| West Palm Beach | $39,000 | 200 | +25% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $35,000 | 90 | +425% |
| Atlanta | $37,000 | 1,520 | +110% |
| Augusta | $34,000 | 210 | +239% |
| Brunswick | $35,000 | 50 | +357% |
| Dalton | $33,000 | 60 | +216% |
| Macon | $34,000 | 120 | +362% |
| Savannah | $37,000 | 130 | +193% |
| Valdosta | $35,000 | 60 | +345% |
| Warner Robins | $33,000 | 60 | +309% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $39,000 | 360 | +352% |
| Idaho Falls | $37,000 | 50 | +296% |
| Pocatello | $41,000 | 40 | +414% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $58,000 | 80 | +170% |
| Chicago | $68,000 | 950 | -19% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $39,000 | 550 | +97% |
| Terre Haute | $39,000 | 90 | +371% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $56,000 | 130 | +132% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $44,000 | 80 | +149% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $37,000 | 280 | +48% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $38,000 | 130 | +207% |
| New Orleans | $46,000 | 200 | +22% |
| Shreveport | $44,000 | 120 | +123% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $37,000 | 180 | +198% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $51,000 | 1,160 | +183% |
| Bethesda | $53,000 | 180 | +0% |
| Cumberland | $50,000 | 490 | +4942% |
| Hagerstown | 150 | +436% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $54,000 | 100 | +100% |
| Detroit | $54,000 | 620 | +198% |
| Flint | $60,000 | 80 | +108% |
| Grand Rapids | $58,000 | 220 | +89% |
| Lansing | $55,000 | 150 | +151% |
| Warren | $54,000 | 420 | +25% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $65,000 | 1,030 | +85% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $37,000 | 640 | +102% |
| St Louis | $42,000 | 670 | +60% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $44,000 | 30 | -79% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | 50 | -13% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $64,000 | 430 | +164% |
| Edison | $64,000 | 550 | +72% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $44,000 | 690 | +480% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $56,000 | 400 | +187% |
| Rochester | $59,000 | 340 | +117% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $39,000 | 400 | +50% |
| Durham | $38,000 | 160 | +90% |
| Greensboro | $38,000 | 170 | +55% |
| Winston Salem | $38,000 | 130 | +104% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $47,000 | 130 | +32% |
| Canton | $48,000 | 140 | +181% |
| Cincinnati | $47,000 | 460 | +45% |
| Cleveland | $49,000 | 370 | +16% |
| Columbus | $50,000 | 370 | +29% |
| Lima | $49,000 | 40 | +180% |
| Toledo | $45,000 | 310 | +244% |
| Youngstown | $50,000 | 170 | +147% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $36,000 | 440 | +145% |
| Tulsa | $35,000 | 120 | -10% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $55,000 | 850 | +166% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $47,000 | 340 | +219% |
| Philadelphia | $50,000 | 860 | +44% |
| Pittsburgh | $49,000 | 570 | +59% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $38,000 | 60 | -32% |
| Columbia | $39,000 | 140 | +30% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $36,000 | 140 | +102% |
| Jackson | $35,000 | 60 | +268% |
| Johnson City | $28,000 | 90 | +343% |
| Kingsport | $38,000 | 60 | +68% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $37,000 | 120 | +581% |
| Austin | $38,000 | 220 | -10% |
| Dallas | $39,000 | 640 | -3% |
| Fort Worth | 380 | +41% | |
| Houston | $41,000 | 1,630 | +98% |
| Killeen | $38,000 | 210 | +454% |
| Longview | $34,000 | 50 | +81% |
| Texarkana | $34,000 | 40 | +168% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $40,000 | 550 | +188% |
| Virginia Beach | $41,000 | 580 | +145% |
| Winchester | $41,000 | 80 | +491% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia | $47,000 | 270 | +843% |
| Seattle | $57,000 | 690 | +57% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $35,000 | 50 | +50% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $49,000 | 510 | +97% |