Prison Officers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Prison Officers supervise and control the activities of inmates in prisons and other correctional institutions.
Also known as: Correctional Officer.
Specialisations: Custodial Officer.
Formal qualifications are not needed to apply to become a Prison Officer, but applicants need to pass a rigorous selection process and undertake pre-service training.
Tasks
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observing the conduct and behaviour of prisoners to prevent disturbances and escapes
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inspecting and maintaining the security of locks, window bars, grilles, doors and gates
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supervising prisoners during work assignments, recreational periods, sporting activities and meals
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assisting with the implementation of education, rehabilitation and other programs organised for prisoners
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searching prisoners and cells for weapons, drugs and other contraband items
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patrolling assigned areas and reporting breaches of rules, unsatisfactory attitudes and prisoner adjustment problems
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requisitioning prisoners' clothing, toiletries, reading material and other allowable items
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supervising prisoners in transit between courts, prisons and other facilities
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
-
Administrative
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Enterprising
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow moderately
- is likely to reach 15,300 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 14,900 |
2012 | 12,600 |
2013 | 15,900 |
2014 | 15,500 |
2015 | 18,400 |
2016 | 18,400 |
2017 | 20,200 |
2018 | 19,900 |
2019 | 18,600 |
2020 | 25,500 |
2021 | 14,600 |
2026 | 15,300 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 92% of people employed as Prison Officers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 26 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
More than half of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $1,792 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,586
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,020
Median hourly earnings are $45, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Prison Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,792 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Prison Officers work in the Public administration and safety industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Prison Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 28.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 16.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 3.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 54% of Prison Officers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Prison Officers is 46 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 27% of the workforce. This is 21 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Prison Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 3.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 17.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 25.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 31.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 12.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 46 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not needed to apply to become a Prison Officer, but applicants need to pass a rigorous selection process and undertake pre-service training.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Correctional Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Prison Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 8.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 45.1 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 14.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 10.1 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Prison Officers who are caring, compassionate and empathetic and can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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54%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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48%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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45%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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45%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
39%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
36%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
32%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
77%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
65%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
59%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
58%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
52%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
49%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
45%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
43%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
41%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
41%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
39%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
-
38%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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36%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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33%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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26%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
25%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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19%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
17%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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55%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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55%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
54%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
52%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
52%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
48%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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48%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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48%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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46%
Explosive strengthQuickly jump, sprint, or throw an object.
-
45%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
45%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
45%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
43%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
43%
Dynamic strengthExercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
-
39%
Hearing sensitivityTell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
73%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
71%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
67%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
66%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
66%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
66%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
64%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
64%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
63%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
62%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
60%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
60%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
-
53%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
52%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
52%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
-
52%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
49%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
48%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
48%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
47%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
71%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
67%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
38%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
86%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
76%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
67%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
50%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
43%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
99%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
95%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
94%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
91%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
89%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
88%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
85%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
85%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
84%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
83%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
83%
Physically aggressive peopleDeal with physically aggressive or violent people.
-
82%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
82%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
81%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
80%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
80%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
77%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
-
74%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 33-3012.00 - Correctional Officers and Jailers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.