May 29, 2026
Lansing, Mich. – As part of the Safe Prisons Initiative, the Michigan Department of Corrections is announcing an increased pay rate of approximately $10,000 per year for new corrections officer recruits at five Upper Peninsula correctional facilities. The increase is expected to improve recruitment and retention, a key component of the initiative.
Facilities where officer recruits can earn the increased rate are Marquette Branch Prison, Baraga Correctional Facility, Alger Correctional Facility, Kinross Correctional Facility, and Chippewa Correctional Facility. The facilities were selected based on current staff vacancy rates and being designated as existing in a hard to recruit region of the state. The starting hourly pay for new officers will increase from $23.45 to $28.24, reflecting the base compensation typically received following completion of two years of service.
“We are confident this incentive will be a strong tool for hiring in Upper Peninsula regions where recruitment has historically been challenging due to a variety of factors,” said Director Heidi E. Washington. “Officers currently at these worksites are working tirelessly to operate their facilities in a safe and secure way around the clock. We are optimistic that this change, along with other components of the Safe Prison Initiative, will provide relief to staff and create safer facilities.”
The department is actively recruiting for the next Northern Region Officer Academy which starts on July 20, 2026, in Kincheloe. Recruits who apply and are hired for the academy will begin at the increased rate on day one. They will receive 8 weeks of intensive, paid training at the academy before continuing to their facility for 8 weeks of on-the-job training. Interested applicants can attend an upcoming hiring event in their area or apply online. Immediately upcoming hiring events at impacted facilities are:
Along with the increased pay, officers will continue to receive comprehensive benefits from the State of Michigan like health, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off and parental leave; 401k with employer match; and more.
“The increased pay rate will help the department compete for qualified staff within the local job market where we have noticed a variety of barriers such as housing availability and population demographics,” said Deputy Director of Correctional Facilities Administration Jeremy Bush. “This increase provides a strong incentive for men and women in the U.P. to join our department’s mission and we look forward to welcoming them as part of the MDOC team. We know these facilities need the additional support and we are excited to see qualified local community members step up and heed the call.”
It is the department’s desire that current officers at the selected facilities who are currently below the $28.24 hourly pay rate will be brought up to the increased wage. The department has initiated communication with the Michigan Corrections Organization, who represents current MDOC officers, and plans to stay actively engaged with the union on those discussions.
The Safe Prisons Initiative takes a multi-pronged approach to prison safety by identifying projects that can collectively provide positive outcomes for staff, prisoners, and the community. The initiative identifies five key areas that have an impact on the safety of prisons: prisoner classification and bed space; contraband introduction and technology; prisoner programming; training and staff support; and recruitment and retention.
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