How to become a corrections officer in Washington
The Washington State Department of Corrections hires state corrections officers under the title Corrections & Custody Officer 1 - Teamsters (CO1). New officers start at $62,040 a year, rising to $83,340 after about 5.5 years.
Pay
| Starting salary | $62,040 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $83,340 |
| Years to top | 5.5 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
Steps A–M in the 2025–27 union contract: two steps after 6 months, then two steps a year. New hires may start above step A.
Source:[ofm.wa.gov]
Requirements
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Valid driver's license
- Legal (constitutional) right to carry a firearm; concealed weapons permit not required
Source:[doc.wa.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application (jobs.doc.wa.gov, keyword CO1) with supplemental questions
- Hiring event with panel interview
- Professional reference checks (3)
- Criminal history check
- Conditional job offer
- Pre-employment drug screen and respiratory medical questionnaire
- Psychological battery (3 exams) and psychologist interview
- Correctional Worker Core Academy (6 weeks)
Source:[doc.wa.gov]
Entrance exam
Psychological Battery. Series of three virtual exams reviewed by a DOC staff psychologist, followed by a 1-hour psychological interview; no written entrance exam named.[doc.wa.gov]
Academy
6 weeks, paid. DOC Correctional Worker Core Academy, completed after hire (training on use of force, searches/contraband, report writing).[doc.wa.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Washington Department of Retirement Systems - Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) Plan 2
- Benefit formula: 2% x service credit years x average final compensation (highest 60 consecutive months)
- When you can retire: Normal retirement at age 65 with 5 service years, or age 60 with 10 years of PSERS service; early (reduced) at age 53 with 20 years
Member contribution 6.91% effective July 1, 2025. DOC site does not itself name the plan; PSERS assignment for DOC custody staff not confirmed on a DOC page.
Source:[drs.wa.gov]
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-23. Pay plans change; confirm with the employer before applying.