Trainee Corrections Officer

Come help the Department of Corrections transform lives for a safer Minnesota! Each day when you come to work for the Department of Corrections, you have the opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of those under our care and for those in communities throughout Minnesota.

Working Title: Trainee Corrections Officer
Job Class: Trainee Corrections Officer
Agency: Department of Corrections

• Job ID: 93581
• Location: Moose Lake; Togo; Rush City
• Telework Eligible: No
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Trainee
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 04/16/2026
• Closing Date: 10/15/2026
• Hiring Agency: Department of Corrections
• Division/Unit: Minnesota Corrections Facility Safety and Security
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift for the initial 6-week training academy, then a shift will be assigned.
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday for the initial 6-week training academy, then the work schedule will be assigned based on the scheduling needs of the Minnesota Correctional Facility where you work.
• Travel Required: Yes, during the initial 6-week academy. All centralized training will be held at the DOC Central Office starting the week after your date of hire, with the exception of a one-day training session at MCF-St. Cloud held at the conclusion of the academy. No hotel accommodations are offered for Rush City hires during training. If applicable, hotel accommodations may be offered to hires of the other facilities in the northern region during training.
• Salary Range: $29.10 - $29.10 / hourly; $60,760 - $60,760 / annually
  • $29.10 per hour during the initial 6-week training academy (for new hires to the State of Minnesota).
  • After successful completion of the 6-week training academy, Trainees will move to the Corrections Officer 1 classification and their pay will remain the same. Employees in the Corrections Officer 1 classification are promoted to Corrections Officer 2 after successfully completing one (1) year probationary period and will receive a pay increase at that time.
  • Note: Current State employees may contact Kristen Hanson (Kristen.Hanson@state.mn.us or 651-361-7542) for more information related to rate of pay.
  • Current Salary Range of Corrections Officer 1: $29.10 / hourly; $60,761 / annually
  • Current Salary Range of Corrections Officer 2: $29.83 - $39.66 / hourly; $62,285 - $82,810 / annually
• Classified Status: Non-Status during the initial 6-week training academy. Classified status after appointment to Corrections Officer 1.
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 218 - Insufficient Work Time/Unrepresented during the initial 6-week training academy. AFSCME Unit 208 after appointment to Corrections Officer 1.
• FLSA Status: Nonexempt
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: No

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This job announcement will fill multiple openings at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Moose Lake, Rush City, and Togo only.

Are you seeking a career path, competitive pay, and great benefits? Become a Corrections Officer with the Minnesota DOC! No corrections experience necessary - we will train you to maintain security, supervise activities, and promote change in people who are incarcerated at one of the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) locations.

Experience as a security officer, law enforcement, a probation officer or in the criminal justice field? Share your experience with our team! We offer a shift differential, paid vacation and sick leave, 12 paid holidays per year, and an opportunity to retire at age 55!

Corrections Officers are responsible for providing a controlled setting to ensure the safety and security of the correctional facility by supervising incarcerated people, encouraging positive behavior, and preparing them for successful release into the community.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Ensure the safety, security, and control of the correctional facility.
2. Supervise incarcerated people to ensure the environment encourages positive behavior and prepares them for a successful transition into the community upon release.
3. Give and receive written and verbal information in a clear, understandable, accurate, timely, and dependable manner so that information is evaluated, sound decisions are made, and appropriate action is initiated.
4. Be competent in the use of all equipment ensuring it is operated efficiently and safely.
5. Prepare for and respond to any unusual or emergency situation utilizing the appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) procedures ensuring the safety, accountability, welfare, and security of the general public, facility, onsite personnel, and incarcerated people.
6. Follow all agency and state policies and statutes. Support the DOC's vision, mission, values, goals, and initiatives.

When requests are received by the DOC Human Resources to fill a Trainee Corrections Officer position(s), job offers will be made and positions will be filled by the applicants who have met all of the requirements detailed below and have passed the interview. Applicants are also required to pass the background check which will be completed after the applicant has accepted the contingent job offer. If the background check is not satisfactory, the offer will be rescinded.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for further consideration and assessment, you must:

Be at least 18 years old to work at an adult correctional facility, and at least 21 years old to work at a juvenile correctional facility (MCF-Red Wing), AND

Possess a high school diploma or GED, AND

Be able to pass a criminal history check, which will be conducted before hire. To pass, you must have successfully completed all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation, AND

Be able to possess a firearm. You may be asked to obtain a permit to purchase to qualify for meeting this requirement, AND

Have a valid driver's license.

In addition, you must possess at least ONE of the following to qualify for further consideration and assessment:

One or more years of full-time work experience in ANY field. (Note: The work experience does NOT have to be in Corrections), OR

Two or more years of part-time (at least 20 hours per week) work experience in ANY field. (Note: the work experience does NOT have to be in Corrections), OR

Completion of an associate degree in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or a Human Services related field with an emphasis in corrections/criminal justice, OR

Completion of a bachelor's degree in ANY field from an accredited college/university, OR

Honorable discharge from active military duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, OR

Current member in good standing in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, OR

Successful completion of an internship in a Minnesota Correctional Facility in a related security area.

Interview Process:

Within a few days after you apply, the Minnesota DOC Human Resources (HR) will review your application to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications. If you meet the minimum qualifications, a HR Specialist will email you an interview link. We use SparkHire One-way video interviews. The interview can be completed using your device. The interview must be completed within one (1) week. Some facilities offer in-person interviews. If you do not meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified by email. Please ensure your contact information (i.e., email address, mailing/home address, cell, and work phone numbers) is up to date so that we can contact you. You must receive a passing rate on the interview to be considered for hire as a Trainee Corrections Officer.

Background and reference checks will be conducted if you are offered a position and must be satisfactory to move forward in the hiring process.

Physical Requirements

If you are offered a job, you must pass a tuberculosis screening and respirator clearance. You will also be required to review and sign a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for the position. For a copy of the PDA, please email Tiffany.Werner@state.mn.us.

In addition, an employee must receive an area exposure to a DOC-approved chemical irritant, which is a core training requirement of the Minnesota DOC.

Additional Requirements

The selection process may include screening the top candidate(s) on their criminal history, predatory offender registration, offender associations, and/or other applicable background information in accordance with the Department of Corrections policy.

Employment history/reference checks, including incidents of sexual harassment, will also be conducted on the top candidate(s) in accordance with the Department of Corrections policy. This may include a review of job performance and discipline records.

New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) does not participate in E-Verify. The DOC will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.