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State Prison Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

FT Correctional Officer I

New Ulm, MN · On-site

$25.79 - $28.91/hr

Receive training in federal, state and local laws as they apply in law enforcement and detention ... Prison Rape Elimination Act training * Restraint Chair Training (annually) * FEMA Emergency ...

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State Prison information

See Minnesota salary details

$11

$53

$90

How much do state prison jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for state prison in Minnesota is $53.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.49 and $82.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 are popular job titles related to State Prison jobs in Minnesota?

For State Prison jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching State Prison jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for State Prison jobs in Minnesota are:

Infographic showing various State Prison job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,671 per year, or $53.2 per hour.

MSUAASF Range C - TREC Coordinator

Saint Paul, MN • On-site

Minnesota State
501 - 1,000 employees

$47K - $93K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

St. Paul

Full time

JR0000005707

All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

Working Title:

MSUAASF Range C - TREC Coordinator

Institution:

Metropolitan State University

Classification Title:

MSUAASF Range C

Bargaining Unit / Union:

211: Minnesota State University Association of Administrative Service Faculty

City:

St. Paul

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Unclassified - Unlimited Academic

Salary Range:

$47,845.00 - $93,809.00

Job Description:

Metro State University, Minnesota’s public, urban university, and four-time recipient of the Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award is seeking to hire a TREC Coordinator. This is a full-time, probationary position within the College in Prison program, called Transformation and Reentry through Education and Community (TREC).

Responsibilities:

  • Contribute to recruitment, preparation, and coordination of instructors and volunteers to ensure a highly qualified, ready and effective body of program contributors

  • Provide student-facing services and maintain student-facing materials to ensure a high-quality, inclusive, and effective learning environment.

  • Guide and support program constituents’ interactions with DOC facilities and maintain positive relationships with DOC leaderships to smooth operations and ensure program sustainability.

  • Contribute to partnerships and relationships with community members to ensure the integration and alignment of the university’s program with multiple educational and other non-profit organizations.

Salary Range:

This is a Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF) Range C position with a salary range of $47,845 (minimum) to $93,809 (maximum). Salary is commensurate with education and experience and is determined by the collective bargaining agreement between Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minnesota State) and the MSUAASF organization.

  • Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the MSUAASF which can be found: https://www.minnstate.edu/system/working/docs/contracts/msuaasf-contract.pdf

Minimum Qualifications:

The following qualifications are required of all applicants seeking consideration for this position. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for the position:

  • One of the following:

  • Master’s degree plus one year of professional experience in prison education programs.

  • Bachelor’s degree plus two years of professional experience in prison education programs.

  • Three years of professional experience in prison education programs.

  • An equivalent combination of post-secondary training, education and/or professional experience relevant to prison education programs.

  • Knowledge of the practices and procedures specific to higher education in prisons.

  • Demonstrated ability to accomplish objectives by integrating knowledge of multiple, complex systems, standards, or rules.

  • Demonstrated ability to connect day-to-day functions to program and university goals.

  • Communication skills (written & verbal) to communicate with a variety of persons and groups.

  • Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse environment.

  • Demonstrated Development of Customer Service and/or Interpersonal skills needed for this position to work with students/staff/faculty.

Preferred Qualification:

  • A terminal degree plus two years of professional experience in prison education programs.

  • Knowledge of Minnesota Department of Corrections policies, procedures, and strategic goals pertaining to higher education.

  • Knowledge of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities policies and procedures....

  • Demonstrated history of collaboration with multiple state agencies and public and private higher education institutions, such as the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State 2-year and 4-year institutions, the University of Minnesota, and regional private 4-year colleges.

Working Conditions:

The position requires frequent travel to Minnesota Correctional Facilities (MCF) sites, providing their own transportation to do so. The incumbent must be able to clear a background check, allowing them to entire a correctional facility, and maintain permission to work at MCF sites. Incumbent will be expected to comply with the requirements of each facility, and will regularly work full and partial days inside security perimeter with limited communications.

Physical Requirements of the Job: Light: Requires occasionally transporting such articles as file boxes and heavy hand tools or heavier materials with help from others and/or transporting light objects frequently. The position may require movement throughout building(s) to a significant degree.

Application: To apply, go to https://www.metrostate.edu/about/employment

*To comply with privacy and data practices requirements, please refrain from including personal information or photographs in your application materials.

Open until Filled. Priority Applications must be received by 11:59 PM on September 22nd, 2026 .

Qualified applicants are required to attach the following documents to their online application:

  • Cover letter of interest addressing how your qualifications align with the requirements of this position.

  • Current curriculum vita or resume.

  • Names of four (4) references with addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers.

  • Transcripts - Valid unofficial copies of your transcript showing conferred/awarded date, your name and the academic institution’s name/logo are required. We do not accept copy/paste word documents with a list of courses/grades or DARS reports. If selected for hire, official original transcripts will be required.

If you have other questions related to this position announcement, please contact Human Resources, at 651.793.1275 or email at hrrecruiting@metrostate.edu.

For TTY, call Minnesota Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 7-1-1 or 1-800-627-3529.

Notice : In accordance with the Minnesota State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota State’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.

The University:

Metro State University empowers learners to transform their lives and communities through relevant, student-centered education in an inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive learning environment.

Metro State University provides an excellent, inclusive, and engaging education to eliminate opportunity gaps and empower our students to lead our communities to a prosperous and equitable future. The university offers programs leading to baccalaureate, masters, and applied doctoral degrees. We provide accessible, high quality liberal arts, professional, and graduate education with continued emphasis on marginalized groups, including adult learners. Metro State is a five-time recipient of the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, most recently in 2023. Federally recognized as a Minority Serving Institution, its employees serve more than 9,000 post-traditional learners, two-thirds of whom identify as belonging to communities of color or American Indian nations, are first in their family to attend college, and/or are eligible for Pell Grants. Since we do not operate residential facilities, Metro State University students all commute to class locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, or take their courses wherever they are through our many distance-learning and hybrid course offerings, allowing Metro State to truly be “where learning meets living.” Metropolitan State is recognized by CollegeNet as a leading higher education promoter of social mobility for students (Ranked # 12 out of 1,398 in 2026). Recognized in 2008 and 2016 by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement, the university is committed to academic excellence and community engagement through curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and services designed to support an urban mission. As a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Metro State University actively works to achieve the Equity 2030 (https://www.minnstate.edu/Equity2030/index.html) goal of the system, with initiatives to close disparities among student groups that focus on academic programs, policies and procedures, and effective student support. In addition, equity and anti-racism strategies (https://www.metrostate.edu/about/diversity) are focused on building an inclusive and welcoming campus climate, hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and developing our capacity to serve students in a culturally responsive manner. The university is finalizing a new strategic plan, with the draft goal of enhancing its legacy of student success by becoming the region’s premier institution for high-quality, accessible, and equitable education, promoting social mobility and community engagement.

Visit the Metro State University website (http://www.metrostate.edu) to learn more about the university, our programs, and our students. Learn more about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at their website (https://www.minnstate.edu/) .

For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.metrostate.edu/students/support/safety

The School/Academic Department: The TREC program provides robust educational and re-entry experiences to incarcerated students. The TREC program offers the Individualized BA degree through the College of Individualized Studies (CIS). TREC/CIS offices are located on Metro State’s Dayton’s Buff Campus, while TREC courses and co-curricular programs are delivered on-site in multiple Minnesota Correctional Facilities.

Metro State University is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we take your well-being and work-life balance seriously. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that features low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option. To further support your holistic health, employees also have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, legal, and financial counseling. Detailed plan details, rates, and coverage choices can be reviewed directly via the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) (https://mn.gov/mmb/segip/) website.

To support your life outside of work, our package includes 12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, and six weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We also help you secure your financial future with a robust Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts, and various investment options. Furthermore, we invest in your growth by providing dedicated professional development and tuition waivers for both you and your dependents. Please note that specific benefit eligibility and coverage levels may vary depending on the type of position, employee classification, and collective bargaining agreements.

Desired Start Date:

10-21-2026

Position End Date:

Open Date:

09-08-2026

Close Date:

10-30-2026

Posting Contact Name:

Kevin Earl Thompson

Posting Contact Email:

hrrecruiting@metrostate.edu

Information for new and prospective employees

Welcome to the Minnesota State career site for external applicants. This page allows you to search for jobs, apply, and check the status of applications at the colleges, universities, and system office of Minnesota State.

Those applying for a position will be prompted to create a profile in Workday. Use the “sign in” link at the top of this page to log in to your profile. Current employees must log in to Workday to apply for positions using the Jobs Hub app.

Visit our website to learn more about Working at Minnesota State (https://www.minnstate.edu/system/working/index.html) , including information about compensation and benefits, professional development opportunities, and employee and labor relations.

Sound like your kind of place? If so, we invite you to explore our many exciting careers!

| Employee Resources (http://www.minnstate.edu/employees/index.html) | Privacy Statement (http://www.minnstate.edu/privacy/index.html) | Technical and Security Issues (http://www.minnstate.edu/security/index.html)

Minnesota State is an equal opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity (http://www.minnstate.edu/system/equity/index.html) . We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex,