How to become a corrections officer in Alabama
The Alabama Department of Corrections hires state corrections officers under the title Correctional Officer Trainee. New officers start at $53,818 a year. You must be at least 19.
Pay
| Starting salary | $53,818 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
ADOC lists COT starting salary by facility type: $59,272.80 maximum security, $56,481.60 medium security, $53,817.60 work release / community work center (includes 10% max / 5% medium location differential). ADOC says employees can earn 'almost 30%' more within the first two years. No official top-of-range figure found.
Source:[join.doc.alabama.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 19
- Education: High school diploma or GED, plus a college degree OR BAT/ACT WorkKeys test results
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- Valid driver's license
- No felony or domestic violence convictions
- Clean drug screen and background check
- Honorable discharge if a veteran
- Pass physical fitness assessment and psychological evaluation
Source:[join.doc.alabama.gov]
Hiring process
- Apply online for a COT position at a chosen facility (adocjobs.us)
- Attend a hiring event
- Submit remaining documents to recruiter
- Background check and drug screen
- Physical fitness assessment and psychological evaluation
- Complete the 10-week APOSTC academy
Source:[join.doc.alabama.gov]
Entrance exam
Basic Ability Test (BAT) / ACT WorkKeys. Required unless the applicant holds a college degree.[join.doc.alabama.gov]
Academy
10 weeks, paid. APOSTC academy leads to APOSTC certification; ADOC says trainees are hired as COTs and paid as a COT while in training.[join.doc.alabama.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Employees' Retirement System of Alabama (ERS), Retirement Systems of Alabama
- Benefit formula: 1.65% (benefit factor .0165) × years of service × average final salary (highest 5 of last 10 years) — Tier 2
- When you can retire: Tier 2 FLC (certified correctional officers): age 56 with at least 10 years of creditable service
New hires (on/after Jan 1, 2013) are Tier 2. Full-time certified correctional officers contribute 7.0% of earnable compensation under Tier 2. Source is RSA's 2019 'Understanding Your Retirement' presentation.
Source:[rsa-al.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.