How to become a corrections officer in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) hires state corrections officers under the title Corrections Officer Trainee (job code 47200, pay group CO34; promotes to Corrections Officer 1, job code 47210, pay group CO35). New officers start at $47,925 a year, rising to $73,879. You must be at least 18.
Pay
| Starting salary | $47,925 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $73,879 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
CO pay schedule effective July 1, 2026. Trainee group CO34 has three steps: S $46,610, A $47,925, B $49,010 (2026 postings show hires at A or B). Corrections Officer 1 (CO35) runs $49,010 (step A) to $73,879 (step K) at the base longevity level; higher longevity levels raise step K to $98,728. Annual = biweekly × 26.08 per the schedule.
Source:[pa.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Out-of-state applicants may apply (residency waiver)
- Pass medical and psychological evaluations
- PA Class C driver's license or equivalent for positions that involve driving (Corrections Officer 1 spec)
Source:[pa.gov]
Academy
5 weeks, paid. Five weeks of paid training at the DOC Training Academy in Elizabethtown, plus about one year of on-the-job training; applicants must already be DOC employees to attend.[pa.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), defined benefit plan, Class A-3 (option to elect A-4)
- Benefit formula: Class multiplier × 2% × years of credited service × final average salary (A-3 multiplier 1.00 = 2% accrual; A-4 multiplier 1.25 = 2.5%); FAS = highest three non-overlapping periods of four consecutive calendar quarters
- When you can retire: Unreduced at SERS retirement age, which is 55 for corrections officers, with 3 years of credited service; or any age with 35 years where age + service is at least 92; vested at 10 years
- Social Security: yes, you also pay in
Corrections officers are exempt from the hybrid/DC plans that most state hires since 2019 enter; members joining on/after 1/1/2019 in these positions go to A-3 with a 45-day window to choose A-4. Member contribution 5.75% (A-3) or 8.8% (A-4), adjustable under shared-risk.
Source:[sers.pa.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.