How to become a corrections officer in Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services hires state corrections officers under the title Corrections Corporal. New officers start at $65,562 a year, rising to $79,602 after about 6 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $65,562 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $79,602 |
| Years to top | 6 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
FOP 88 contract Appendix A pay line P66112, effective July 1, 2026: seven steps from $31.52/hr (step 1, matches the posted hiring rate) to $38.27/hr (step 7); x2080 = annual. Employees with satisfactory performance advance one step each July 1, so step 7 is reached after six step moves. Contract also provides an annual lump-sum bonus for Corporals at certain facilities (TSCI, NSP, DEC and others) and shift differential.
Source:[das.nebraska.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school education or equivalent
- Valid driver's license
- Must be able to legally possess a firearm and ammunition
- Pass a security background check and reference checks
- Post-offer medical exam, then a drug test at a randomly announced time
- Mandatory overtime, weekends, holidays and double shifts
Hiring process
- Online application (Workday, Nebraska State Careers)
- Interview
- Security background check
- Reference checks
- Medical exam
- Drug test
- Paid Nebraska Corrections Training Program at the Staff Training Academy
Academy
7 weeks, paid.[corrections.nebraska.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Nebraska State Employees Retirement Plan (NPERS), Cash Balance benefit
- Benefit formula: Cash balance account: member contributes 4.8% of pay, state matches at 156%; account earns an interest credit of the federal mid-term rate + 1.5%, with a 5% minimum when the mid-term rate is below 3.5%
- When you can retire: Vested after 3 years of service (or on reaching age 55 while employed); retirement benefits available from age 55 after leaving state employment
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
Members who began contributing on or after January 1, 2003 are in the Cash Balance benefit (not a final-salary pension). Handbook revised 12/2025.
Source:[govdocs.nebraska.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.