Prison service officers (below principal officer) salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£31,603
Employment patterns
- 95% of Prison service officers (below principal officer) work full-time
- 99.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Prison service officers (below principal officer) pay in the UK
The typical prison service officers (below principal officer) in the UK earns a median salary of £31,603 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £36,388. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical prison service officers (below principal officer) actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: prison service officers (below principal officer) pay ranges from £23,472 in East of England up to £54,037 in London, a difference of £30,565 (130%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see prison service officers (below principal officer) pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for prison service officers (below principal officer) at £54,037 — 71% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £23,472.
UK median £31,603
| Region | Median payUK median £31,603 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £54,037 | £54,037 | £55,482 | +71% |
| South East | £38,698 | £38,698 | £37,747 | +22% |
| Scotland | £36,306 | £36,306 | £33,806 | +15% |
| North West | £33,155 | £33,155 | £37,231 | +5% |
| North East | £32,457 | £32,457 | £32,244 | +3% |
| South West | £30,843 | £30,843 | £30,190 | -2% |
| West Midlands | £30,435 | £30,435 | £27,555 | -4% |
| Wales | £28,654 | £28,654 | £29,715 | -9% |
| East Midlands | £25,840 | £25,840 | £27,607 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £23,884 | £23,884 | £28,521 | -24% |
| East of England | £23,472 | £23,472 | £23,500 | -26% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £54,037 | £54,037Mean £55,482 | +71% |
| South East £38,698 | £38,698Mean £37,747 | +22% |
| Scotland £36,306 | £36,306Mean £33,806 | +15% |
| North West £33,155 | £33,155Mean £37,231 | +5% |
| North East £32,457 | £32,457Mean £32,244 | +3% |
| South West £30,843 | £30,843Mean £30,190 | -2% |
| West Midlands £30,435 | £30,435Mean £27,555 | -4% |
| Wales £28,654 | £28,654Mean £29,715 | -9% |
| East Midlands £25,840 | £25,840Mean £27,607 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £23,884 | £23,884Mean £28,521 | -24% |
| East of England £23,472 | £23,472Mean £23,500 | -26% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£31,603); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local prison service officers (below principal officer) pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow prison service officers (below principal officer) pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for prison service officers (below principal officer) by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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