How to Become a Probation Officer
Supervise and support people on probation or parole, balancing accountability with rehabilitation. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $66,270 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$66,270/yr
Middle half
$54,250 to $84,780
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
7,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Case Management
- Risk Assessment
- Counseling
- Report Writing
- De-escalation
Helpful certifications
- State probation officer certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
60/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
80/100
Related careers
- Detective / Criminal Investigator$93,790 median
- Emergency Management Director$93,330 median
- Forensic Science Technician$72,060 median
- Paralegal$62,890 median
- Firefighter$59,280 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Probation Officer make?
The median pay for a Probation Officer is $66,270 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $54,250 and $84,780 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Probation Officer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology.
Is Probation Officer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Probation Officer use most?
Common skills for this role are Case Management, Risk Assessment, Counseling, Report Writing, and De-escalation.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).