How to become a probation and parole officer in West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Administrative Office (Division of Probation Services; officers serve the circuit courts) hires state probation and parole officers under the title Probation Officer. New probation and parole officers start at $53,038 a year.
Pay
| Starting salary | $53,038 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2026-09 |
Wood County announcement (open through 2026-10-16): starting salary $53,038-$61,894, may be higher with prior probation officer experience. No published top of range. Adult probation is a state judicial-branch job in WV; parole officers are a separate state job in the WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Parole Services), not covered here.
Source:[courtswv.gov]
Pay for this work across West Virginia
Federal survey figures for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in West Virginia, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from the state's own pay scale above.
| People in this work | 890 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $37,640 |
| Median pay | $53,120 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $73,190 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, counseling, social work, psychology or related social/behavioral field(s)
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
- Writing sample with the application, plus a writing evaluation (presentence report drafting) before hire
- Criminal background check and drug screen
- Psychological examination before hiring
- Physical fitness consistent with field visits, operating a firearm, self-defense tactics and protective equipment
- Must be able to work evenings, weekends and holidays
Source:[courtswv.gov]
Hiring process
- Submit the WV judiciary General Employment Application with resume and writing sample to the office named in the announcement
- Interview
- Writing evaluation
- Criminal background check and drug screen
- Psychological examination
Source:[courtswv.gov]
Academy
Length not published. No basic-training length found in an official source opened.
Pension and retirement
- Plan: West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Tier II (first hired on or after July 1, 2015)
- Benefit formula: Annual benefit = 2% x years of service x Final Average Salary (highest 60 consecutive months within the last 15 years)
- When you can retire: Full benefits at age 62 with 10+ years of contributing service; reduced at 60-62 with 10+ years, 57-62 with 20+ years, or 55-62 with 30+ years
Member contributes 6%; employer 8.0% from July 1, 2026. The job announcement lists a 'defined benefit pension plan' but does not name the plan; PERS is the plan for state employees.
Source:[wvretirement.com]