The route, drawn out
DWG C5FF · 4 stops · 1 year to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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1 year Fully qualified around £28k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £38k
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Then Supervising officer and custodial manager next step
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
Prison and custody officers manage people at difficult moments in their lives: keeping order, maintaining safety, and doing the rehabilitation work that reduces reoffending. It is a job of authority, judgement and communication far more than force.
Training is paid from day one and recruitment runs continuously in most regions. Pay includes shift and unsocial hours allowances, with a solid pension and clear promotion structure.
A typical day
- Supervise and support people in custody day to day
- Carry out searches, checks and security procedures
- De-escalate conflict and manage challenging behaviour
- Support rehabilitation, education and resettlement work
- Write accurate reports and records
How you get in
- You must be 18+ and pass vetting, fitness and medical checks
- No formal qualifications required for many roles
- Resilience and calm authority are essential
- Shift work including nights, weekends and holidays
Where it leads
- Supervising officer and custodial manager
- Specialist roles: security, intelligence, dog handling
- Offender management and probation routes
- Training and staff development
Where to train for this
6 colleges and training providers on our list cover Prison / Custody Officer training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.