Correctional Officer

State of Utah Office of the Governor • West Haven, UT

8d • $32 - $40 • Onsite

About The Position

The Utah Department of Corrections is hiring full-time Correctional Officers to supervise offenders in its care and custody while balancing compassion with accountability. Positions are in-office/on-site at the Utah State Correctional Facility and various correctional centers in Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties; specific correctional center assignments depend on availability. This recruitment is not for the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison. The listed location is 1480 N 8000 W, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116.

The hourly pay range is $31.52–$40.24, with entry pay potentially increasing based on prior Corrections or Law Enforcement experience under the department’s 1-for-1 service credit policy. The posting states that total possible first-year compensation may be valued up to $92,298.90. With a two-year commitment, hires are eligible for a $6,000 signing bonus: $3,000 after successfully completing the correctional officer training academy and another $3,000 on the one-year anniversary of hire. Acceptance of either bonus requires remaining employed in the hiring area throughout the 18-month probationary period. Qualified applicants currently working for another Utah law enforcement agency may be eligible for a contract buyout of up to $20,000.

Training is paid and includes POST certification. No prior experience is required. Initial testing includes a physical fitness test. A comprehensive background investigation, which may include a polygraph, may be required, and a drug test is required. New hires in certified positions may not have tattoos above the shirt collar line, including on the neck, head, or face.

Requirements

• Meet SFO standards.
• Meet POST standards.
• Be at least 19 years old before the Academy start date.
• Meet the physical fitness test minimums: vertical jump of 14.5 inches or higher; 14 continuous military-style push-ups; a 30-second plank; and a 1.5-mile run in 16 minutes 11 seconds or less.
• New hires in certified positions must not have tattoos above the shirt collar line, including anywhere on the neck, head, or face.
• Complete a drug test; a comprehensive background investigation may be required and may include a polygraph.

Nice To Haves

• Preference may be given to applicants currently in Public Safety.
• Prior Corrections or Law Enforcement experience may increase the entry pay rate through 1-for-1 years of service credit on the certified pay plan.
• Qualified applicants currently working for another law enforcement agency in Utah may be eligible for a contract buyout of up to $20,000.

Responsibilities

• Supervise offenders in the department’s care and custody.
• Maintain the safety and security of correctional facilities.

Benefits

• $6,000 signing bonus, subject to the stated eligibility and employment commitment conditions.
• Paid training through POST certification.
• Health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Retirement plans.
• Job stability, career growth opportunities, meaningful work, and a supportive work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed