Prison officer salary and the national full-time average
Prison officers in Australia earn a median full-time salary of $2,080 a week, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). That is about $108,160 a year before tax. The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year). So the typical prison officer sits just a few dollars below the national line.
Where the figures come from
The median of $2,080 comes from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which asks employers about their employees’ pay. It covers full-time non-managerial adult employees. The national average of $2,083.70 is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which measures average ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults across all industries and sectors. These are different measures: the median is the middle point, while the average can be pulled up by high earners. For prison officers, the median is very close to the national average, meaning the occupation’s pay distribution is fairly tight.
Award minimums vs actual pay
The Corrections and Detention (Private Sector) Award 2020 sets minimum rates for prison officers in private facilities. As of 1 July 2026, a Correctional Officer Level 1 has a minimum weekly rate of $1,076.20 ($28.32 an hour). A Correctional Supervisor Level 1 gets $1,334.20 ($35.11 an hour). These are the legal floors. Actual pay is almost always higher because of enterprise agreements, shift allowances, overtime, and penalty rates. The median of $2,080 is nearly double the entry-level award minimum, reflecting the effect of experience, seniority, and additional payments.
What moves pay above or below the average
Several factors can push a prison officer’s salary above or below the national full-time average:
- Overtime and shift penalties: Prison officers often work rotating shifts, weekends, and public holidays. Penalty rates can add significantly to base pay. Overtime at time-and-a-half or double time can lift weekly earnings well above the average.
- Public vs private sector: Public sector prison officers tend to earn more than those in private facilities. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey shows public sector full-time adults earn $2,263.10 a week on average, compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector. This gap is reflected in prison officer pay.
- Classification and seniority: A trainee or Correctional Officer Level 1 earns less than a Correctional Supervisor Level 2 ($1,387.40 minimum). Senior officers, managers, and specialist roles (e.g., dog handlers, intelligence officers) can earn well above the median.
- Location: State full-time averages vary widely. The ACT has the highest at $119,090 a year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. Tasmania is lowest at $96,008. Prison officers in high-paying states are more likely to be above the national average.
- Hours: The median is based on full-time workers. Part-time or casual officers earn less per week. The award defines full-time as an average of 38 ordinary hours per week, but many prison officers work more than 38 hours, boosting total earnings.
How prison officer pay compares to other occupations
The all-occupations median full-time earnings are $1,852 a week (about $96,304 a year). Prison officers at $2,080 are well above that. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week for a 38-hour week ($52,255 a year). Even the award minimum for a Correctional Officer Level 1 ($1,076.20) is above the national minimum wage. So prison officer pay is comfortably above the floor.
Using the site’s tools
You can Place a salary on the line to see how a prison officer salary compares to the national full-time average. The site also shows State and territory averages so you can see how location affects pay. For a broader view, check Industry medians and Job medians.
What the figures don’t tell you
The median of $2,080 is before tax. After tax, a prison officer earning $108,160 a year would pay about $24,500 in income tax plus the 2% Medicare levy, leaving around $81,500 take-home pay (using 2026–27 tax rates). The figure also doesn’t include superannuation, which employers must contribute at 12% from 1 July 2026. And it doesn’t capture non-monetary benefits like job security, government pensions, or the physical and psychological demands of the role.
Summary
Prison officer pay sits just below the national full-time average, but is well above the all-occupations median and the minimum wage. Overtime, shift penalties, public sector employment, and location can push it above the line. The award minimums are much lower, so actual pay depends heavily on enterprise agreements and individual circumstances.
For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. For guides on understanding pay, visit Guides.