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Posted: February 24, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Correctional Officer (Correctional Counselor)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$64,077 - $85,567

per year

Closes

March 11, 2026More DOJ jobs →

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a correctional counselor in a federal prison, where you'll develop programs to help inmates with counseling, prepare them for release back into society, and manage daily aspects like their personal items and funds while ensuring the facility stays secure.

It's a hands-on role that requires interacting closely with inmates, including those with mental health or substance abuse issues, and responding to emergencies.

A good fit would be someone with experience in counseling at-risk individuals, strong decision-making skills under pressure, and the physical stamina for demanding work in a high-stress environment.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GL-07 level, such as working as a correctional officer, residential counselor, or re-entry services specialist
  • For GL-07: One full year of graduate education in criminal justice, social science, or related field
  • Knowledge of policies on inmate programs and ability to enforce rules in a correctional setting
  • Experience in crisis decision-making, interviewing inmates, and assessing needs for counseling or special programs
  • Physical fitness for arduous duties including prolonged standing, walking, restraining prisoners, and emergency responses
  • Ability to develop and implement individual and group counseling programs for inmates with special needs like mental health or substance abuse
  • Sound health and no medical conditions that pose hazards in a high-pressure correctional environment

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GL-07: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science or other field related to the position.

GL-08: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

OR Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

This experience must have equipped the applicant with the qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-07: Experience in work such as a correctional officer, residential counselor for at-risk individuals, or re-entry services specialist.

Experience in demonstrating knowledge of obtaining information and resources. Experience in demonstrating the knowledge of policies regarding inmate programs.

Experience enforcing rules and regulations in a correctional environment. Experience making decisions in a crisis.

GL-08: Experience in work such as a substance abuse counselor, probation officer, or law enforcement training coordinator. Experience in demonstrating knowledge of developing/implementing programs.

Experience drafting reports to summarize assessments or behavior. Experience assessing inmates'/offenders' programming needs.

Experience interacting with inmates/offenders with special needs, (i.e., mental health, substance abuse, anger management issues).

AND Medical Requirement: The Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons has established the following medical requirements for Correctional Officer positions: The duties of these positions involve unusual mental and nervous pressure and require arduous physical exertion involving prolonged walking and standing, restraining of prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts.

Applicants must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of these positions and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others.

The duties of a Correctional Officer are arduous; and sound health as well as physical fitness is required. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

The Correctional Counselor develops and implements programs within the unit to meet the individual needs of the inmates confined, to include individual as well as group counseling.

As part of the institution intake process (Admissions & Orientation), must interview newly admitted inmates.

The Correctional Counselor plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing the security of the unit and institution by their extensive contacts with the inmates.

Serves as the unit expert and coordinator on matters pertaining to: (a) inmate personal property, including incoming and outgoing package approvals; and (b) trust fund activities, including inmate withdrawals and special purchase orders.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff's correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/24/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/25/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: WAS-2026-0018