Correctional settings are high-stress environments that can adversely affect officers’ well-being and life satisfaction, making psychological resources such as resilience and stress appraisal critical for adaptation. This study examined perceived stress and resilience as predictors of life satisfaction among correctional officers at the Keffi Medium Security Correctional Centre, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and the Conservation of Resources Theory, a cross-sectional survey design was employed with 180 officers selected using the Taro Yamane formula and probability sampling techniques. Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and regression analyses. Findings indicated a significant variation in perceived stress levels, χ²(3, N = 180) = 8.376, p = .039. Perceived stress significantly predicted life satisfaction (B = 0.089, β = .237, p = .013), as did resilience (B = 0.176, β = .269, p = .005). However, in the combined model, only perceived stress remained significant (B = 0.137, p = .038). The study concludes that perceived stress is a stronger determinant of life satisfaction than resilience in this context. It recommends implementing stress management interventions, enhancing psychosocial support services, and integrating resilience-building programs to improve correctional officers’ well-being.