Prison Officer Salary UK: A Complete Guide to Pay in 2026/27

Understanding the prison officer salary UK landscape is essential for anyone considering a career in the Prison Service or comparing their current pay. Prison officer pay is structured around base rates, unsocial hours allowances, London weighting, and overtime, making it different from many other public sector roles. This guide uses the latest official sources to explain how prison officer pay works, how to convert between hourly and annual figures, and what to expect from April 2026.

How Prison Officer Pay Is Structured

Prison officers in England and Wales are employed on the ‘Fair and Sustainable’ pay bands. New entrants typically start at Band 3 (prison officer) or Band 2 (Operational Support Grade). The advertised starting salaries already include a 20% unsocial hours allowance because prison work involves shifts, nights, weekends, and public holidays. This allowance is consolidated and pensionable.

According to the official Prison and Probation Jobs website, starting salaries for a prison officer range from £33,746 (37 hours, national rate) to £44,474 (41 hours, Inner London). Trainees begin on a 37-hour contract and can opt for 39 or 41 hours after training.

Hourly to Annual Conversion: What the Figures Mean

To convert an advertised annual salary to an hourly rate, you need to know the contracted weekly hours. For example, a national rate prison officer on 39 hours earning £35,875 per year (the 2025 figure after the PSPRB uplift) would have an hourly rate of approximately:

£35,875 ÷ (39 hours × 52 weeks) = £17.70 per hour

However, this £17.70 already includes the 20% unsocial hours allowance. The base hourly rate before the allowance would be lower (around £14.75). Always check your contract for the breakdown between base pay and allowances.

For Band 2 OSGs, the base pay is lower. The PSPRB’s 2026 report shows the 37-hour base spot rate rising from £24,527 to £24,549 – a minimal increase because the National Living Wage (NLW) rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026 already covers most of the uplift. At 37 hours, £24,549 per year equates to about £12.76 per hour, just above the NLW.

London Weighting and Market Supplements

Prison officers in London receive additional pay through fixed cash differentials. The PSPRB’s 2026 recommendation increases Inner London differentials to a maximum of £5,218 and Outer London to £3,432 above the national maxima. These are applied consistently across all bands and are pensionable.

Some prisons also pay a market supplement to attract staff. For example, Feltham and High Down in Outer London list starting salaries of £39,525 for 37 hours – higher than the standard Outer London rate – because of these supplements. Supplements are not guaranteed and can be reviewed.

Overtime Rules

Overtime can significantly boost take-home pay. For OSGs, the HMPPS submission to the PSPRB confirms overtime rates:

• Weekday daytime (07:00–19:00): 1.3 × standard hourly base rate, plus a £5 per hour addition.
• Weekend and night working (19:00–07:00): 1.75 × standard hourly base rate, plus £5 per hour.

Prison officers in Band 3 and above may have different overtime arrangements, often at plain time or time-and-a-half depending on local agreements.

How Prison Officer Pay Compares to UK Averages

The Office for National Statistics’ Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for April 2025 shows median full-time gross annual earnings of £39,039 and median hourly pay of £19.67 (excluding overtime). A prison officer on the national rate of £35,875 (39 hours) is slightly below the median annual figure, but Inner London officers earning £44,474 are above it. When overtime and allowances are included, many prison officers exceed the national median.

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over will rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026. This directly affects the lowest-paid prison staff, such as OSGs, whose base pay must at least match the NLW.

Key Considerations for Job Seekers

• Hours assumption matters: The advertised salaries assume a 37-, 39-, or 41-hour week. If you work part-time or different shift patterns, your annual pay will differ. Use our Hourly to Salary calculator to convert your own hours.
• Unsocial hours allowance is included: Don’t double-count it when comparing to other jobs that may not include shift premiums.
• Pension and benefits: Prison officers are eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, one of the best in the UK, which adds significant value beyond salary.
• Regional variation: Pay varies by prison location, with Inner London paying the most. Check the salary data for your specific prison.

Future Pay Prospects

The PSPRB’s 2026 recommendations (3.5% base increase for most bands) are subject to government acceptance. If implemented, they will apply from 1 April 2026. The NLW increase to £12.71 will also lift the floor for the lowest-paid grades. Keep an eye on official announcements for final confirmation.

For more detailed breakdowns of how hourly rates translate into annual salaries across different sectors, visit our salary articles covering public sector pay scales.

Summary

The prison officer salary UK is competitive, especially when including the 20% unsocial hours allowance, London weighting, and overtime opportunities. Starting salaries range from around £33,746 to £44,474, with clear progression through pay bands. When converting to hourly rates, always account for the contracted hours and the included allowance. Use official sources like the PSPRB reports and the Prison and Probation Jobs website for the most accurate figures.