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Associate Warden Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Associate Warden information

See Kentucky salary details

$7

$22

$61

How much do associate warden jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate warden in Kentucky is $22.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.99 and $23.37 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate warden?

Associate Wardens are senior administrators in correctional facilities who assist the Warden in managing daily operations, staff, and inmate programs. They oversee various departments within the prison, such as security, programs, or administration, and ensure that policies and procedures are followed. Associate Wardens play a key role in maintaining safety, security, and order within the facility, and may act as the Warden in their absence. Their responsibilities often include supervising staff, developing budgets, and coordinating with other agencies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate warden, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Warden, you need a strong background in criminal justice or corrections, experience in facility operations, and often a bachelor's degree in a related field. Familiarity with correctional management systems, security technologies, and compliance regulations is essential. Leadership, conflict resolution, and excellent communication skills help in managing staff and maintaining order. These skills ensure the safe, efficient, and lawful operation of correctional facilities and promote a secure environment for both staff and inmates.

What are some common challenges faced by associate wardens, and how can candidates prepare to address them?

Associate Wardens often encounter challenges related to staff management, inmate safety, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Balancing administrative duties with the need for effective communication across diverse teams is essential. Candidates can prepare by developing strong leadership skills, staying updated on correctional policies, and learning conflict resolution strategies. Proactively engaging in ongoing training and being adaptable to changing circumstances are also key to success in this role.

What is the difference between Associate Warden vs Correctional Officer?

AspectAssociate WardenCorrectional Officer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree often preferred; experience in correctionsHigh school diploma or equivalent; training certification
Work EnvironmentAdministrative setting within correctional facilitiesDirect supervision within correctional facilities
Employer & Industry UsagePrisons, jails, detention centersPrisons, jails, detention centers
Common Search & ComparisonLeadership, management, administration roles in correctionsFrontline security and supervision roles

In summary, an Associate Warden typically holds a higher administrative role with responsibilities for facility management, requiring more education and experience. In contrast, a Correctional Officer focuses on direct supervision and security within correctional facilities, often with less formal education but essential for daily operations.

How to become an associate warden?

To become an associate warden, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field, along with relevant experience in corrections or law enforcement. Progressing to this role often requires demonstrating leadership skills, knowledge of facility operations, and sometimes obtaining specialized certifications. Advancement may involve gaining experience as a correctional officer or supervisor and developing management competencies.

What cities in Kentucky are hiring for Associate Warden jobs?

Cities in Kentucky with the most Associate Warden job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Warden job openings in Kentucky as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 7% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,253 per year, or $22.2 per hour.

Secretary (Associate Wardens Secretary)

Lexington, KY • On-site

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

Other

This job post has expired 3 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Summary Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities. Responsibilities Receives visitors, determines the nature of the requests, personally providing the information desired when it is of a routine or procedural matter, before referring them to the Associate Warden. Maintains supervisor's calendar, takes request for appointments with supervisor and staff. Serves as a liaison to the Associate Warden, personally processing requests. Responsible for the preparation in draft and/or final form of material such as memoranda, letters, reports, requests, etc., as assigned. Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis. Requirements Conditions of Employment Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility: A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter), Most recent performance appraisal, and Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location. See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is Required. See Special Conditions of Employment Section. Selective Service Requirement Qualifications To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GL-06 and GL-07: As a general rule, education is not creditable above GL-05 for most positions covered by this standard; however, graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position. OR Experience: GL-06, and GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled. Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-06: Experience receiving visitors, determining the nature of the requests, personally providing the information desired when it is of a routine or procedural matter. Experience receiving, distributing, and routing incoming/outgoing correspondence, screening material prior to distribution to the appropriate person and establishing suspense due dates. Experience in the preparation in draft and/or final form of material such as, memoranda, letters, reports, requests, etc., as assigned. Experience in setting up and maintaining logs showing the status of actions and correspondence. GL-07: Experience in following up on committee actions where indicated, including typing and distributing committee docket sheets, processing committee actions, and distributing copies to all concerned. Experience in scheduling and confirming a supervisor's appointments, special events and conferences and ensuring that the supervisor is fully briefed on the matters to be considered before the scheduled meeting in addition to resolving conflict in schedules whenever feasible. Experience in serving as an advisor/mentor to other institution secretaries on procedural matters such as correct procedures to follow in preparing correspondence. Experience in managing the institution's congressional response file, to include receiving all congressionals, identifying appropriate official responsible for response, suspending each congressional and following-up on late responses and proofing responses before forwarding to supervisor for review. OR Combination of Education and Experience: If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities. Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application. Education ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty. Additional Information In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage. Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. Please refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility. Special Conditions of Employment Section: Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check. All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm. Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques", three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)


Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System logo

About Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System, located in Washington, DC, operates under the U.S. Department of Justice and is a crucial player in the nation's law enforcement and public safety industry. Established in 1930, the Bureau's objective is to professionally manage federal offenders to ensure their secure containment while also providing rehabilitation programs. Its mission is to guard society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient and appropriately secure. Its main commitments are to public safety, employee excellence, integrity, transparency and respect. Under its notable achievements, it has managed over 200,000 federal inmates and 60,600 employees, and runs a plethora of programs that cater to the needs of the inmates, ranging from mental health treatment to vocational training.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

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