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Prison officer : Salary and conditions

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Case studies

  • Starting salaries in England and Wales range from £17,744 to £27,530. Local pay allowances may also apply, ranging from £4,250 in central London to £1,100 in surrounding areas (salary data collected Oct 09).
  • Salaries at higher levels in England and Wales include: senior officer, £29,371; principal officer, £30,926 - £31,913; manager (G-E), £23,434 - £43,927; and senior manager (D-A), £44,589 - £78,732 (salary data collected Oct 09).
  • In Scotland, the starting salary for operations prison officer recruits is £15,608. If you perform well in your probationary 12 months and beyond, you progress within the pay band and you can expect to progress to the maximum within the starting band (currently £20,772) over a period of around five years (salary data collected Oct 09). Bonuses for effective and exceptional performance are available once the maximum has been reached.
  • A choice of two civil service pension schemes is offered to prison officers across the UK.
  • The annual leave allowance is 22 days on entry, rising to 25 days after one year and to 30 days after 10 years' service.
  • Pay conditions and pension schemes in private prisons may vary from the above.
  • Officers work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends and some long days. Working hours are, on average, 39 hours per week (37 in Scotland) over the shift cycle.
  • Prisons vary from very modern buildings to those built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Major refurbishment is in progress at many of the older establishments.
  • Most of the work is indoors, although patrolling and supervision duties involve spending time outside.
  • Opportunities exist for staff to work on a part-time or job share basis.
  • The majority of staff within the Prison Service are male, in line with the prison population.
  • Prison officers in England and Wales are employed on a 'mobile grade' and may be required to work anywhere in the country. However, officers have the opportunity to indicate preferred work locations and in most instances preferred locations are offered.
  • The work can be stressful and requires a flexible approach for dealing with a variety of people. Difficult, confrontational situations may arise.
  • Prison officers are provided with a uniform.
  • Escort duties may require spending time away from the prison, for example supervising a prisoner who is taken to hospital, but it is unusual for this to involve extensive time beyond the normal shift pattern.
 
AGCAS
Written by Ruth Livermore, University of Birmingham
Date: 
October 2009
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