Jail Operator Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $24.63 - $27.66 Hourly
Location : Waco, TX, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: JAIL
Opening Date: 09/08/2025
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 5:00 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Position Summary
Perform security duties maintaining order and physical custody of inmates in a jail system or courthouse complex. Responsible for the care, custody, and control of persons to include; releasing offenders, maintaining security of the facility, and escorting offenders within and/or outside the secure confines of the jail.
Essential Functions

• ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
  
  • Provide direct and remote supervision of inmates within housing and other areas of a jail, a courthouse, or secure perimeter as assigned to maintain a safe and secure environment
  • Conduct frequent security checks for evidence of unauthorized activities and infractions of rules, respond to situations, and document accordingly
  • Receive and process inmates from officers and the courts, maintain inmates' property, and direct inmates throughout the intake process
  • Conduct metal detection of individuals and materials before entering facilities, perform necessary searches for weapons and contraband, and completes reports
  • Inspect cells, housing areas, locks, windows, grills, doors, gates and perimeters of buildings and grounds for security purposes
  • Observe conduct and behavior of inmates, respond to and control emergency situations, and use appropriate levels of force to control combative, volatile, or hostile offenders
  • Documents numerous inmate activities such as, visitation, phone calls, incidents, movement, housing assignments, property, etc.
  • Enter information into a database to capture daily activities
  • Supervise inmates and trustee-inmates work crews
  • Assists in booking new inmates
  • Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present
  • Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes
  • Inspect mail for the presence of contraband
  • Supervise the dispensing of food in a timely fashion to inmates, ensuring all health and safety regulations are complied with
  • Must be able to obtain TLETS certification.
  • Regular attendance and timeliness are required
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor
• BOOKING STAFF JOB FUNCTIONS:
  
  • Receives and reviews paperwork associated with incarceration to ensure accurate completion; notarizes affidavits from the arresting officer; obtains information from inmate and paperwork (warrant, writ, detainer, etc.) and makes appropriate computer entries; including local and out of county charges
  • Checks for any outstanding warrants using the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) computer and confirms with out-of-county agencies that have warrants through TLETS, run Criminal Histories through TLETS for classification officer. Process Emergency Protective Orders, Interlock, Conditions of Bonds when ordered by the judge. Enters stolen items into TLETS for Sheriff's Office Deputies and other agencies that we have inter-local agreement with
  • Prepares bail bonds (e.g. probable cause misdemeanors, pre-indictments, Class C, cash bonds, fugitive fines, and civil) and fees associated with each for releasing prisoners from custody.
• LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER: The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Minimum Requirements
EDUCATION:
Required:

• High School Diploma or GED

Preferred:

• TCOLE Jailer Certification (must not be on probationary status for disciplinary reasons)

SKILLS ~ EXPERIENCE:
Required:

• Current and valid TX driver's license and a safe driving record
• Applicant must be 18 years of age on /or before date of hire
• Must maintain personal loyalty to the Sheriff
• Ability to work in a hostile environment of inmates and their visitors without reacting in a negative manner and project a professional image at all times
• Exceptional skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with County staff, inmates, police departments and the public
• General knowledge of basic hardware and software and uses of a variety of different computer operating systems such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals
• Must also possess excellent physical assessment skills and be able to make sound judgment decision
• Ability to supervise emergency situations, make effective decisions under stressful situations, and direct the use of physical force necessary to protect oneself and others
• Keen attention to detail; careful and accurate data entry
• Must be a U.S. citizen or is a legal permanent resident of the United States, if the person is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two years of service before discharge and presents evidence satisfactory to the commission that the person has applied for United States citizenship.

DISCLAIMER: McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past ten years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually. McLennan County requires jailer candidates to complete a pre-employment assessment. This assessment helps us evaluate your skills and suitability for the position.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL TESTING: The following exercises will be graded as a complete or did not complete. In order to pass the physical fitness test, the participant must complete all five exercises.

1. 1/2-mile run
2. Deadlifts: 3 barbell deadlifts
3. Overhead Dumbbell Press
4. 25-yard sled drag
5. 100-yard run while wearing SCBA equipment

Disqualifiers:

• Undesirable character or reputation
• A felony conviction or felony deferred adjudication against the laws of this state, another state, or the United States
• Conviction including court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B Misdemeanor, or a Class B Misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years
• Currently under indictment for any criminal offense
• Conviction, guilty plea, or probation for any family violence offense
• Discharge from any military service under less than honorable conditions, or any other characterizations of service indicating bad character

All Employees
oMust be committed to achieving excellence in assigned duties, always in service of the county and community
oMust have ability to earn and keep the trust of fellow employees and the community at large
oMust be approachable and ready to help fellow employees and the general public
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

• Contact with "at risk" clients and persons accursed or adjudicated of misdemeanor and felony offenses, visitors and general public
• Work is performed mostly indoors in a 24-hour/7-day confined, security facility
• Climate-controlled environment. Significant contact with the public, elected officials, department heads, and other County employees
• Potential exposure to chemical agents deployed to maintain facility security

PHYSICAL DEMAND REQUIREMENTS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to find, handle, or feel objects, reach with hands and arms; stoop and kneel
• Must be able to meet the requirements of the Pre-Employment Physical Testing
• Individual must be able to physically avoid combative or aggressive inmates and may occasionally become involuntarily engaged with combative inmates
• Must be able to lift and wear an approximately 40 pound Self Contained breathing apparatus during emergencies.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• TCOLE Jailer Certification license obtained within the first year of employment as a condition of continued employment.
• This four-week certification training includes basic physical training and defensive tactics. The performance of these tactics will require physical strength and agility. This includes squats, running, jogging, bending, twisting, falling and pushing/pulling their own body weight.

Supplemental Information
HOURS / SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, evenings and nights. Must be able to work 12 hour shifts.
COMPENSATION - STRUCTURED STEP PAY PLAN: Regular, full time Jailers are eligible to participate in the Step Pay Plan. Steps are created within each eligible position based on tenure. Each step represents an increase in salary over the Base Pay for the position to arrive at the Step-Adjusted Pay for the employee.
McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.
***THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR NIGHT SHIFT PAY***
McLennan County offers a full range of employee benefit programs for eligible employees and their families. These programs include group health plans for medical with an option to open a Health Saving Account (HSA) with a County-paid contribution of $2000 over a year. We offer dental and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), life and long & short term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care accounts. Employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) with a $2.50 County match for every $1.00 of employee contribution. In addition to these benefits we offer 12 paid holidays and a free gym membership program for health plan participants.
Jailers with Licensed TCOLE experience are eligible to have up to 4 years of service count toward their step pay.
Step Pay0123456789
$51,418$52,934$54,496$56,104$57,758$59,462$61,216$63,023$64,881$66,796
*Note: These benefits are for full time McLennan County employees only. Part time Mclennan County employees are only eligible to participate in the Retirement System. Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) employees receive a different benefit package through the state.
01
I have earned a high school diploma or GED.

• Yes
• No

02
I am a citizen of the United States of America?

• Yes
• No

03
I have not been convicted, pleaded guilty (or no contest), or placed on court-ordered community service, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class A misdemeanor or felony.

• True
• False

04
In the past 10 years, I have not been convicted, pleaded guilty (or no contest), or placed on court-ordered community service, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B misdemeanor in any state or while serving in the military.

• True
• False

05
I am at least 18 years of age or older

• Yes
• No

06
I do not have visible tattoos or brands on my neck, face, or head. Visible tattoos or brands on the face and head are prohibited. Neck tattoos are considered on an individual basis.

• True
• False

07
I have never had a military court martial that resulted in a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge

• True
• False

08
I am willing to work an average of 20-24 hours of mandatory overtime on a monthly basis, and I understand this may be a requirement of this position.

• Yes
• No

09
I understand that this position has SPECIAL CONDITIONS/HOURS: I Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, evenings/nights. I must be able to work 12-hour shifts.

• Yes
• No

10
When is the earliest date that you would be able to start employment?
Required Question