Prison Officer
Also advertised as: corrections officer, Custody Officer, detention officer, Detention Officer, gaoler, jailer
Keeps prisoners safe and secure, and supports rehabilitation day to day.
What the job involves
Prison officers supervise and support people in custody. You maintain security and order, defuse conflict, run rehabilitation and education routines, and build the relationships that make a wing safe. Training is paid, with no qualifications required to apply.
Typical responsibilities
- Supervise prisoners and maintain security
- De-escalate conflict and manage incidents
- Support rehabilitation and education activity
- Carry out searches and checks
- Write reports and case notes
Common employers
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- Private prison operators
- Immigration removal centres
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£33,000 – £40,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based including nights and weekends
Working environment
Prison wings and workshops
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- De-escalation
- Observation
- Resilience
- Report writing
- Teamwork
Transferable skills you may already have
- Handling conflict
- Security or door work
- Shift working
Requirements employers ask for
- De-escalation
- Observation
- Resilience
- Report writing
- Teamwork
- Pass fitness, medical and security vetting
- Security vetting
- escort defendants
- handle conflicts
- restrain individuals
- correctional procedures
- ensure compliance with types of weapons
- legal use-of-force
- see to the detainees' well-being
- undertake inspections
- law enforcement
- comply with the principles of self-defence
- illegal substances
- identify security threats
Useful but not essential
- Handling conflict
- Security or door work
- Shift working
- Level 3 Custody and Detention apprenticeship
- handle surveillance equipment
- apply knowledge of human behaviour
- contribute to the formulation of correctional procedures
- oversee rehabilitation process
- write situation reports
- ensure law application
- practice vigilance
- conduct security screenings
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 Custody and Detention apprenticeship
Licences and checks
- Security vetting
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Custody and Detention Officer (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Any
Where this career can lead
next
Supervising Officer
next
Custodial Manager
next
Offender Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Paid training with no qualifications needed
- Public sector pension
- Strong team support
What people find hard
- Risk of violence and confrontation
- Emotionally demanding environment
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a prison officer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a prison officer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £40,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Handling conflict, Security or door work, Shift working.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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