SOC 3314 Protective service occupations

Prison service officers (below principal officer) Salary

Median salary £31,603 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £32,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For prison service officers (below principal officer), £41,287 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +6.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Prison service officers (below principal officer) supervise, support and manage prisoners in custody. They maintain security and order within prisons, support rehabilitation activities and ensure the safety of prisoners, staff and visitors.

Key responsibilities

Supervising prisoners and maintaining prison security
Conducting searches, cell checks and roll counts
Supporting prisoner rehabilitation and resettlement activities
Managing challenging behaviour and conflict resolution
Escorting prisoners to court, hospital and transfers

Qualifications and entry routes

Entry through HMPPS recruitment. No specific qualifications required, though many recruits hold GCSEs or higher. Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) is completed upon joining. Enhanced DBS and security vetting required.

Career outlook

Active recruitment due to staff shortages and high turnover. Retention is a challenge due to the demanding nature of the role. Promotion pathways to senior officer and principal officer.

Key skills

Conflict resolution Security awareness Communication Resilience Observation skills

Common industries

HM Prison Service
Private prisons (Serco, G4S, Sodexo)
Youth offending institutions
Immigration removal centres
Secure training centres

Data coverage

SOC code 3314

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 9,000

Median Salary

£31,603

Mean Salary

£36,388

Jobs (000s)

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £25,714Median: £31,603

P10: --P25: £26kMedian: £32kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£25,714

0-2 years

Mid Level

£25,714

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +12.6%Real growth: -18.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£31,603

Full-time Only

£41,287

Full-time premium: +£9,684

Prison service officers (below principal officer) salary: common questions

How much do prison service officers (below principal officer) earn in the UK?

Prison service officers (below principal officer) earn a median of £41,287 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £41,287 a good salary in the UK?

For prison service officers (below principal officer), £41,287 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +6.0% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for prison service officers (below principal officer)?

Entry-level prison service officers (below principal officer) typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £25,714, though this varies by employer and region.

Have prison service officers (below principal officer) salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median prison service officers (below principal officer) pay has risen from £29,169 to £41,287 — +42% in cash terms, or +3.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).