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State Prison Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Work safety policies ... No 08 Have you ever engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement ...

Corrections Officer

Davenport, IA · On-site

$54K - $77K/yr

Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Work safety policies ... No 08 Have you ever engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement ...

Implements Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Yoga, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training ... Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Work safety policies ...

Implements Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Yoga, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training ... Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Work safety policies ...

Showing results 21-30

State Prison information

See Iowa salary details

$10

$49

$85

How much do state prison jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for state prison in Iowa is $49.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.12 and $77.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What challenges do correctional officers face in a state prison, and how can they manage them?

Correctional officers in state prisons often encounter challenges such as maintaining safety in a high-stress environment, managing conflicts between inmates, and adapting to changing schedules or mandatory overtime. Building strong communication skills, practicing situational awareness, and participating in ongoing training can help officers manage these challenges effectively. Additionally, seeking support from colleagues and utilizing employee assistance programs can be valuable in coping with the demands of the role.

What is the difference between State Prison vs Correctional Officer?

AspectState PrisonCorrectional Officer
CredentialsHigh school diploma or GED; background check; training programHigh school diploma or GED; training academy; background check
Work EnvironmentSecure prison facility, often large and complexInside prison facilities, supervising inmates
Employer & IndustryState government correctional departmentsState correctional facilities, federal or private prisons
Job RoleManage inmate behavior, enforce rules, maintain securitySupervise inmates, monitor activities, ensure safety

While a State Prison refers to the facility itself, a Correctional Officer is the professional responsible for maintaining security and order within that facility. Both roles require similar credentials and work in the correctional industry, but the prison is the environment, and the officer is the personnel ensuring safety and compliance.

What is a state prison?

State prisons are correctional facilities operated by state governments to house individuals convicted of violating state laws. These facilities typically hold inmates serving sentences longer than one year, often for felonies. State prisons differ from federal prisons, which are run by the federal government for those convicted of federal crimes. Inmates in state prisons may participate in rehabilitation, education, and work programs during their incarceration.

What skills and qualifications are needed to work as a correctional officer in a state prison?

To thrive as a State Prison Correctional Officer, you need a high school diploma or GED, knowledge of criminal justice procedures, and physical fitness to manage security and inmate interactions. Familiarity with security systems, surveillance technology, and incident reporting tools is typically required, and some states may require completion of a correctional officer training academy. Strong communication, conflict resolution, and stress management skills are essential for maintaining order and safety. These capabilities are crucial to ensure the secure, humane, and effective operation of correctional facilities.
What are popular job titles related to State Prison jobs in Iowa? For State Prison jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching State Prison jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for State Prison jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for State Prison jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most State Prison job openings:
Infographic showing various State Prison job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $103,643 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

CNA (Psychiatric Security Specialist - Medical)

GovernmentJobs.com

Cherokee, IA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Job Title

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) is seeking a Psychiatric Security Specialist – Medical (CNA/PSS) to join our team!

Job Description

This is a full-time position featuring a 1:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (4 shifts) OR 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (5 shifts) schedule with every other weekend rotation and strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.

The CNA/PSS staff provides general care to a specific high-risk population. This includes direct acute and chronic nursing care, health promotion, disease prevention, health education strategies across the lifespan, treatment of patients through therapeutic activities, providing psychological support and direction, ambulating and bathing patients, documentation of patient behaviors and attitudes, and general security and observation in a locked setting.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

CCUSO provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. The facility provides state-of-the-art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re-offending and to release them from confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient's likelihood of re-offending.

Benefits of Joining CCUSO

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
  • Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
  • Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
  • Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
  • Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
  • Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
  • Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Cherokee Highlights

CCUSO is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River which winds through town providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the "best kept secret in Northwest Iowa."

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with "lived experience" and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, persons in this class may be required to complete security training and treatment program training. Positions in this class may require an applicant to have the ability to pass a background investigation.