Jobs in Oregon Correctional Institutions
November 13, 2026The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) employed an average of 4,716 people during the first half of 2026, according to data from Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). DOC operates 12 correctional facilities, which housed 12,071 adults in custody as of September 2026. These facilities, also known as state prisons, generally house individuals serving sentences of more than 12 months, while county jails primarily hold people awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences. County jails are typically operated by county sheriffs, although some counties share facilities or contract with other counties for jail services.
Additionally, Oregon has five youth correctional facilities, which are administered by the Oregon Youth Authority. There are also four “transitional facilities” where young individuals who have previously offended prepare to reintegrate into the community. The Oregon Youth Authority employed an average of 1,014 people during the first half of 2026, according to QCEW. As of July 2026, the agency supervised approximately 790 youth, including 343 in close custody and 447 on parole or probation.
Oregon is also home to one Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Sheridan. FCI Sheridan employed an average of 286 people during the first half of 2026, according to QCEW. As of November 4, 2026, the institution housed approximately 1,500 adults in custody, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons population statistics.
Oregon State Prison Population: Past and Future
In 1994, Oregon voters overwhelmingly passed the “Tough on Crime” initiative, Ballot Measure 11. The initiative established mandatory minimum sentences for multiple crimes, required that juveniles be tried in court as adults and took away the ability for prisoners to have their sentence reduced for good behavior. In the 10 years after Ballot Measure 11 passed, the number of adults in custody at Oregon DOC facilities shot up from about 7,000 to almost 13,000 people. This 80% increase coincided with the construction of the majority of prisons Oregon has today.
Oregon’s prison population remained above 14,000 for much of the 2010s. However, the number of adults in custody fell from approximately 14,600 in December 2019 to 12,000 in December 2021, a decrease of about 17%. The decline was driven largely by fewer prison admissions as the pandemic disrupted court operations and slowed criminal case processing. Amid declining prison population and efforts to reduce operating costs, two minimum-security facilities, Mill Creek Correctional Facility and Shutter Creek Correctional Institution, closed in 2021.
Looking ahead, the state’s prison population is projected to increase gradually over the next decade. According to the October 2026 Oregon Corrections Population Forecast, the number of adults in custody is expected to reach approximately 12,800 by September 2036, an increase of about 6% from September 2026. While the forecast does not directly predict future correctional employment, changes in the number of adults in custody may affect staffing and operational needs.
Correctional Officers and Jailers: A Demanding Job
Among the various occupations in correctional institutions, correctional officers and jailers play a central role in maintaining safety and security. They supervise individuals in custody, enforce facility rules, conduct inspections, and respond to emergencies. Correctional facilities operate around the clock, requiring officers to work nights, weekends, holidays, and sometimes overtime.
Correctional officers and jailers ranked fourth in employment among occupations in Oregon’s federal, state, and local government sector, excluding state and local government schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers ranked third. According to Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Oregon had an estimated 3,650 correctional officers and jailers in 2025, compared with 5,030 police and sheriff’s patrol officers.
The median hourly wage for correctional officers and jailers in Oregon was $41.25, slightly below the $43.45 median for police and sheriff’s patrol officers but well above the statewide median of $28.01 for all occupations. Among Oregon’s workforce areas, correctional officers and jailers earned the highest median hourly wage in the Portland metropolitan area ($45.08) and the lowest in Southwestern Oregon ($32.97).
Demographics of Oregon’s Correctional Officers and Jailers
Data from the 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) provide additional insights into the demographic characteristics of Oregon’s correctional officers and jailers. Men accounted for 73% of correctional officers and jailers living in Oregon, while almost half of government workers outside schools, hospitals, and the U.S. Postal Service were men. About 84% of correctional officers and jailers identified as white, compared with 77% of government workers.
The educational attainment of correctional officers and jailers differed from that of the broader government workforce. About 41% of correctional officers and jailers had some college education but no degree, while 27% held a high school diploma or GED as their highest level of education. In contrast, nearly half (48%) of government workers held a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 15% of correctional officers and jailers.
The age distribution also differed between the two groups. Workers ages 25 to 34 made up the largest share of correctional officers and jailers (30%), followed by those ages 35 to 44 (23%). In comparison, government workers were more concentrated in the middle age groups, with 25% ages 35 to 44 and 24% ages 45 to 54.
Challenges
Correctional officers and jailers face demanding working conditions that can affect their safety and well-being. A July 2026 audit by the Oregon Secretary of State found that many DOC facilities have aging infrastructure and are poorly maintained, with inadequate lighting and ventilation that can create health and safety concerns. The audit also identified persistent security staff vacancies and reliance on mandatory overtime as ongoing challenges. DOC leadership and staff cited low pay and poor working conditions as factors contributing to vacancies.
Oregon has made changes to correctional staff compensation. In April 2024, the state eliminated the three lowest salary steps for correctional officers and several other correctional occupations, followed by the removal of another step in April 2025. These adjustments raised minimum starting salaries for the affected positions. DOC leadership is also exploring additional ways to address staffing challenges, including hiring and referral bonuses, additional salary steps to reward long-serving security staff, and programs to improve workplace culture.