A few days ago
Anonymous

Corrections Officer or Teacher? Which is better career?

I have to make a decision. I am halfway through the corrections officer hiring process and Im also working as a substitute teacher and am ready to be certiied as a full time teacher. Im turning 40 this year.

Which would you choose?

Corrections Officer: Govt benefits, Pension, $40,000 to start, pay goes to 50k, working in a jail with inmates, work on team, may have to work graveyard shifts, 12 hour-4 day weeks, negative, stressful job. And I have to sign a 2 year contract stating that if I quit within 2 years I owe them $20,000 back pay for putting me through the academy.

Teacher: Govt benefits, $36,000 to start, pension, daytime hours.working with middle school kids, fun job, not having to work with co-workers, independent, and creative job.

I have a 4 year college degree. In Corrections I can move up the ladder into other occupations with the county. As a teacher I can only move up into principal position and thats it.

So which is a better career? I can do both easily.

Top 6 Answers
A few days ago
Mel

Favorite Answer

I think you made up your mind when you wrote how fun teaching would be.

I would like to remind you that there are more opportunities within the school system than being a principal. You can also move up to be an administrator in the school system. Although it will likely double your salary, you will have to work with adults that behave no better than your students!!!

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A few days ago
cammie
Both are good jobs, depending on what you like to do. It sounds like you spoke much more highly about teaching so maybe subconciously you prefer to do that. Also, the $20,000 payback for corrections officer is steep!

Keep in mind that you can move up as a teacher other than becoming a principal. You can move into the Department of Education. There are so many positions and many areas within the state’s educational system to choose from.

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A few days ago
purple_heart0128
Teacher pay is rapidly on the rise (in Texas at least). There are great benefits to teaching, and it is a very rewarding career. I have known people who worked as corrections officers in college. (I went to college in a prison town, so there were many corrections officers in that town). Many people who work as corrections officers end up with a lot of psychological issues. It is very difficult an depressing.

Go for teaching.

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A few days ago
sshazzam
They are both great careers. The corrections office position is a bit more dangerous that being a teacher.

I would say that you have to follow your heart on this one which I think is the corrections officer job. The nice thing is you can always fall back on the teaching job.

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A few days ago
preyta rouse
from the way you described it, sounds like you already made a decision..Just look at how you described the Corrections Officer position, not very positive..and look how you described the teaching position..

read between your own lines..make a decision..but let me tell you, teaching can be just like corrections..nowadays, schools are like babysitters, only you have to deal with teens who are just starting to learn how to use a gun and fight versus grown ups well versed in the art of killing corrections officers..

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A few days ago
jbd89
Teacher, but i’m biased. I want to be a teacher after college. Not to go all hippie on you, but do what makes you happy. At this stage in your life your choices need to be for you, if you have a family to support I understand but if teaching is your passion go for it.
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