Correctional Officers and Jailers
Machines can already do 15% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 38%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Correctional Officers and Jailers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 15% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2039, and 38% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 380,500 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $58,940 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 87% for contact with people.
- Also called: Booking Officer, Community Services Officer (CSO), Correctional Officer, Corrections Officer (CO).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence | 30% | 3% to 25% | |
| Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present | 7% | 18% to 51% | |
| Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities | 7% | 63% to 81% | |
| Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport | 7% | 3% to 25% | |
| Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners | 6% | 18% to 51% | |
| Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests | 6% | 32% to 50% | |
| Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes | 4% | 18% to 51% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills correctional officers and jailers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Bailiffs37% of tasks by 2035 · US median $56,600
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Correctional Officers and Jailers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2039. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of correctional officers and jailers?
Machines can do 15% of the tasks of correctional officers and jailers today and 38% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 33-3012.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Correctional Officers and Jailers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/correctional-officers-and-jailers/