Probation Officer: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

Median pay

$66,270

BLS May 2025

Employed in the U.S.

89,390

BLS May 2025

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Most common education

Bachelor's Degree

88% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (O*NET-SOC 21-1092.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
2. Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
3. Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
4. Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
5. Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seizure.
6. Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
7. Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
8. Administer drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens of offenders, to verify compliance with substance abuse treatment programs.

Telework available

less than 10%

of workers had the ability to telework

Workday sitting

71.1%

mean share of the day required to sit

Most common strength level

Sedentary

42.3% of workers

Can pause work

56.7%

of workers could take short, unscheduled breaks

Self-paced workload

16.2%

of workers set their own workload

Employer-changed schedules

49.8%

of workers had schedules changed by the employer week to week

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey. Estimates are preliminary; ranges are shown as published.

1. Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals97.2% of all jobs in this occupation · +2.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $73,850
2. Social assistance1.4% of all jobs in this occupation · +6.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $47,800
3. Nursing and residential care facilities0.7% of all jobs in this occupation · +4.0% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $46,390
4. Administrative and support services0.5% of all jobs in this occupation · +7.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $54,590
5. Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations0.1% of all jobs in this occupation · +11.0% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $45,270

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Knowledge areas: Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Psychology, Therapy and Counseling, Sociology and Anthropology.

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Also called: Adult Probation Officer, Correctional Counselor, Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Juvenile Probation Officer, Parole Agent, Parole Officer (PO).