How to become a corrections officer in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) hires state corrections officers under the title Correctional Officer 1. New officers start at $45,806 a year, rising to $53,348. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $45,806 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $53,348 |
| Scale effective | 2026-01-06 |
Job code PSP060. Posting (01/06/2026-12/31/2026) lists entry salary $45,806.00 and pay grade maximum $53,347.82. The state's March 2025 job code catalog shows a lower grade minimum ($32,543.42), so GDC hires above the grade minimum. No facility differentials listed in the posting.
Source:[jobs.gdc.ga.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or state-issued GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- No felony convictions, misdemeanor of domestic violence, or multiple misdemeanors
- Valid driver's license or other official ID; 7-year driving history if licensed outside Georgia
- Meet Georgia P.O.S.T. minimum standards
- Vision 20/40 in each eye, corrected or uncorrected
Source:[jobs.gdc.ga.gov]
Hiring process
- Apply to vacancy announcements on GDCJobs.com
- POST Entrance Examination (Accuplacer)
- Online GDC integrity test
- Physical fitness test (push-ups, sit-ups, 1-mile run in 16 minutes or less)
- Criminal background investigation
- Pre-employment drug screening
- Medical examination (at applicant's expense)
- Five-week Basic Correctional Officer Training and POST certification
Source:[jobs.gdc.ga.gov]
Entrance exam
POST Entrance Examination (Accuplacer); GDC integrity test. Accuplacer scores must be submitted in a sealed envelope; the integrity test is available only from GDC Human Resources.[jobs.gdc.ga.gov]
Academy
5 weeks, paid. Five-week Basic Correctional Officer Training course; the first week is firearms training (80% passing score). Officers must become POST certified. Pay status during the course is not stated.[jobs.gdc.ga.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Employees' Retirement System of Georgia (ERS) — GSEPS (Tier 3) hybrid
- Benefit formula: Formula salary (highest 24 consecutive months) × 1% × creditable service, plus Peach State Reserves 401(k) with employer match
- When you can retire: Law-enforcement positions (PSP060 Correctional Ofc 1 is on the ERS LE job-code list): normal retirement at age 55 with 10 years of creditable service, or 30 years at any age. General members: age 60 with 10 years. Early retirement reduced 7% per year.
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
Source:[ers.ga.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.