How to become a probation and parole officer in Colorado
The Colorado Judicial Branch — Probation Services (state-run probation in the judicial districts) hires state probation and parole officers under the title Probation Officer (job class R58000). New probation and parole officers start at $58,418 a year, rising to $84,708 after about 25 years.
Pay
| Starting salary | $58,418 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $84,708 |
| Years to top | 25 |
| Scale effective | 2026-07-01 |
FY27 Judicial Step Plan (monthly): minimum $4,868.20; 1-year step $5,014.25; 5-year $5,319.62; 10-year $5,963.59; 15-year $6,326.76; 20-year $6,712.06; year-25 maximum $7,058.97. Monthly × 12. Next level Senior Probation Officer (R99977) runs $5,361.08-$8,145.65/month. State parole is supervised separately by the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Source:[coloradojudicial.gov]
Pay for this work across Colorado
Federal survey figures for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Colorado, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 2,540 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $51,940 |
| Median pay | $71,680 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $96,770 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, human services or related field; OR associate's degree in one of those fields plus two years of work-related experience in criminal justice, law enforcement, social work, psychology or related field; OR high school diploma/GED plus four years of such experience (substituted year-for-year for the formal education).
- No licenses or certifications required at hire (per job description)
- Physical demands: exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally
- Exposure to hostile individuals and people with known violent backgrounds
Source:[coloradojudicial.gov]
Hiring process
- Apply for a posted Probation Officer vacancy in a judicial district on the Colorado Judicial Branch recruitment platform
Source:[coloradojudicial.gov]
Academy
Length not published. No official source opened giving the length of new probation officer training.
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Colorado PERA — Defined Benefit Plan (non-safety member); probation officers are not on PERA's Safety Officer list
- Benefit formula: Highest average salary × 2.5% × years of service = monthly lifetime benefit (five highest years of salary used)
- When you can retire: Members (other than safety officers) hired on/after January 1, 2020: unreduced at any age with 35 years, age 64 with 30 years, or age 65 with any years; reduced at age 55 with 25 years or age 60 with 5 years
- Social Security: no, this job is not covered
PERA's Safety Officer list (State Patrol/CBI peace officers, corrections officers I-IV, etc.) does not include probation officers. No official source opened stating the Judicial Branch division membership explicitly.
Source:[content.copera.org]