How to become a corrections officer in Idaho
The Idaho Department of Correction hires state corrections officers under the title Correctional Officer. New officers start at $51,168 a year, rising to $98,736. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $51,168 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $98,736 |
| Scale effective | 2026-08-03 |
Top is the maximum of pay grade J ($47.47/hr); the grade midpoint is $65,824 a year, which is closer to what long-serving officers earn.
Source:[dhr.idaho.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen
- No felony convictions
- No crimes of domestic violence or deceit (automatic disqualifiers under IDAPA 11)
- No misdemeanors involving deceit, drugs or sex within the last 5 years
- Pass background investigation
- Pass medical/vision/hearing exam
Source:[idoc.idaho.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application
- Electronic Background Investigation Questionnaire (BIQ)
- Interview with HR
- Physical Readiness Test (PRT)
- Background approval and conditional offer
- Medical/vision/hearing exam
- POST Academy application
- Correctional Officer training (11 weeks)
Source:[idoc.idaho.gov]
Entrance exam
Physical Readiness Test (PRT). 1/2-mile run in 7 min, Illinois agility sprint in 30 s, 120-lb dummy drag 30 ft, 15 squat thrusts in 3 min, crouched padlock test x3. No named written entrance exam; POST academy has weekly exams and a certification exam (75% required).[idoc.idaho.gov]
Academy
11 weeks, paid. 11 weeks of paid training total: weeks 1-4 orientation and job shadowing, weeks 5-11 POST Academy in Meridian. IDOC pays travel, hotel and per diem for staff at ICIO, NICI, TFCRC, IFCRC, PWCC and SAWC.[idoc.idaho.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) Base Plan, Police Officer/Firefighter member class
- Benefit formula: 2.3% × highest 42-consecutive-month average monthly salary × years of credited service (police/fire multiplier, last contribution after July 1, 2000)
- When you can retire: Unreduced at age 60 with 60 months of service, or Rule of 80 (age + years of service = 80); early (reduced) retirement from age 50 with 60 months; vested at 60 months
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
Correctional officers are certified as PERSI police officer members under Idaho Code 59-1303(3)(e) (AG Opinion 17-01; PERSI employer matrix). Handbook is the July 2019 revision; the 2.3% police/fire multiplier is confirmed in PERSI's 2024 ACFR. Optional PERSI Choice 401(k) and 457.
Source:[persi.idaho.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.