Prison officer | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Prison officers supervise inmates in prisons, remand centres and young offenders' institutions.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to

Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
Settle disputes between inmates.
Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
Participate in required job training.
Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
Search for and recapture escapees.
Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.

Average salary
26,691 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Prison officer

27,659 GBP
25,936 GBP

Average salary for part-time Prison officer

Average salary for full-time Prison officer

Showing:

14,113 GBP
13,825 GBP
15,978 GBP

26,691 GBP
25,936 GBP
27,659 GBP

Salary over time for Prison officer

Salary for this role has increased over time

23,925 GBP
24,568 GBP
24,611 GBP
25,792 GBP
26,777 GBP
27,545 GBP
26,691 GBP
27,307 GBP
27,963 GBP

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Future outlook for Prison officers

Balanced outlook

188 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

2% yearly wage growth (on average)

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Prison officer and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

89% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
9% of people in this role have a post-secondary qualification such as a Higher National Diploma
2% of people in this role have a Diploma of Higher Education or equivalent

You do not need qualifications to apply directly to be a prison officer. Personal qualities are more important.

You'll need to take an online test to check your judgement and your number skills. If you pass, you'll attend an assessment day where you'll:

take another number test
take a reading and writing test
take part in role plays to see if you have the right personal qualities for the job
take fitness tests
have a medical and eyesight test
be interviewed

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Prison officer

Policing

What soft skills do I need?

Rise above the competition by brushing up on the 5 most important soft skills you need to become a Prison officer.

Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do

Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively

Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times

Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action

Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

What technical skills do I need?

Technical skills are programmes, softwares and things you need to know in order to be a successful Prison officer. Check that you know:

Data base management system software Corrections housing software

Data base user interface and query software 3M Electronic Monitoring; Guardian RFID; Jail management software; Microsoft Access

Office suite software Microsoft Office

Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel

Word processing software Microsoft Word

Improve your skills today

Policing

Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. Self Control Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Not sure if you are in the right job?

Take our career change quiz

Prison officer | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Access to Higher Education Diploma Policing and Criminal Justice (Distance Learning)

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Future outlook for Prison officers

Prison officer - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

What soft skills do I need?

What technical skills do I need?

Things to highlight for your Prison officer interview

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