Prison officer pay rise 2026/27
Prison staff in England and Wales got at least 3.5% from 1 April 2026, after the government accepted all 12 recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Body on 26 March 2026. Officers below the top of Bands 3 and 5 also moved up a pay point, so a Band 3 officer going from pay point 1 to 2 gets about 7.1%, worth £137 a month after tax.
What the 2026/27 award gives each band
- Band 2 (OSG): 3.5% on top of the rise needed to keep pay above the new National Living Wage from 1 April 2026. The temporary 25% unsocial hours payment stays until the 2027 pay review report.
- Band 3 (prison officer): 3.5% on every pay point, and one pay point up for anyone below the top.
- Band 4 (supervising officer): 3.5% on the spot rate.
- Band 5 (custodial manager): 3.5% and one pay point up for anyone below the top.
- Bands 7 to 12: 3.5% on every point, and Bands 8 to 11 get 3.33% progression for those below the band maximum.
- Closed grades: a one-off 3.5% of base pay, not consolidated and not pensionable, for staff who would not gain by opting into Fair and Sustainable. Those who would gain get a chance to opt in.
What you actually keep
| Who | 2025/26 pay | 2026/27 pay | Rise | Extra take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3: New officer, pay point 1 | £33,748 | £34,928 | 3.5% | £67 |
| Band 3: Pay point 1 moving to 2 | £33,748 | £36,150 | 7.1% | £137 |
| Band 3: Pay point 2 moving to 3 | £34,927 | £36,778 | 5.3% | £85 |
| Band 3: Already at pay point 3 | £35,534 | £36,778 | 3.5% | £50 |
| Band 4: Supervising officer | £39,930 | £41,328 | 3.5% | £79 |
| Band 5: Pay point 1 moving to 2 | £43,382 | £45,966 | 6.0% | £146 |
| Band 5: Already at pay point 3 | £45,466 | £47,057 | 3.5% | £90 |
| Band 7: Head of function | £62,780 | £64,978 | 3.5% | £98 |
National rates, 37 hours, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance, after Income Tax, National Insurance and alpha pension, tax code 1257L. The 2025/26 figures are worked back from the new rates.
The officer already at the top of Band 3 gets the smallest share: £1,243 more a year, but only about £50 a month. The rise takes their pensionable pay over £36,199, so their alpha rate goes from 4.6% to 5.45% on all of it. They are building more pension, but the payslip gain is smaller than 3.5% suggests.
Back pay
The award is backdated to 1 April 2026. HMPPS aimed to have it in pay by the end of June, so most staff got the new rate plus arrears for the months before. For a Band 3 officer moving from pay point 1 to 2, three months of arrears is about £601 before tax. Arrears are taxed in the month they are paid, but PAYE works on your running total for the year, so you are not overtaxed overall unless the lump sum crosses a threshold. See your prison officer payslip explained.
Allowances that changed
- Payment Plus rose to £23 an hour. See the Payment Plus calculator for what you keep.
- Inner and outer London pay differentials rose by 3.5%. See London prison pay.
- Qualified PE instructors get a one-off £1,500, not pensionable, until the 2027 report.
- The dog care allowance rose by 3.5%, with the multiple-dog rate set at 25% above the single rate.
What happens next
The Ministry of Justice sent the pay review body its remit for 2027/28 on 15 July 2026, aiming again for an award close to the start of the pay year in April. The Prison Officers’ Association has also asked the government for a separate cost of living payment. Prison staff in Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own pay arrangements and are not covered by this award.
For your own figures, use the prison officer pay calculator, or see the starting salary on 37, 39 and 41 hours.
Common questions
How much is the prison officer pay rise for 2026/27?
At least 3.5% from 1 April 2026 for Bands 2 to 12. Officers below the top of Bands 3 and 5 also move up one pay point, and Bands 8 to 11 get 3.33% progression below the maximum.
When was the 2026 prison pay award announced?
On 26 March 2026, when the government accepted all 12 recommendations in the Prison Service Pay Review Body’s 25th report.
Is the 2026 prison officer pay rise backdated?
Yes, to 1 April 2026. HMPPS aimed to pay it, with arrears, by the end of June 2026.
What is the new prison officer starting salary?
Band 3 pay point 1 is £29,107 for 37 hours from 1 April 2026, or £34,928 with the 20% unsocial hours allowance, at most prisons.
How much is Payment Plus in 2026/27?
£23 an hour from 1 April 2026.