Prison officer pay rise: what is confirmed, and what is not.
The 2026/27 award is confirmed: 3.5% for England and Wales, backdated to 1 April 2026. The 2027/28 round has started but nothing has been decided or timetabled. This page separates what is confirmed from what is only reported, shows what it means in pounds for your band, and is re-checked against the sources at the bottom.
Pick your band and see your pay
Working overtime? Work out what a Payment Plus shift is worth after tax.
Confirmed
- 3.5% consolidated, pensionable increase for Bands 3 to 12; Band 2 gets 3.5% on top of the National Living Wage rise PSPRB report
- One pay point for most Band 3 and Band 5 staff; Payment Plus up to £23 an hour; London differentials up 3.5% PSPRB report
- Government accepted all 12 recommendations; effective from 1 April 2026 Remit letter
- The 2027/28 pay round formally started on 15 July 2026 Remit letter
Not yet published
- A 2027/28 evidence timetable or deadlines
- The PSPRB's 2027 report and any recommended percentage
- The Government's decision on a 2027/28 award, and when it would be paid
- Any joint or multi-year pay deal (the PSPRB invited the POA to discuss one; the outcome is not public)
Unverified
- That the 2026/27 award was paid in June salaries with arrears. Reported by the POA quoting HMPPS; no HMPPS confirmation found POA CIRC 038
- The wording of the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1463): the Parliament page could not be opened, so acceptance is cited from the remit letter and news reports Parliament
- Any number quoted online for the 2027/28 award, unless it links to a primary source
In 60 seconds
- Confirmed: 3.5% consolidated and pensionable from 1 April 2026 for Bands 3 to 12 (Band 2: 3.5% plus the National Living Wage rise). All 12 PSPRB recommendations were accepted.
- Pay point too: most Band 3 and Band 5 staff also moved up one pay point. A point 1 Band 3 officer who also moved up a pay point goes from £33,746 to £36,150, +£2,404 a year (National, 37 hours including the 20% allowance).
- Back pay: HMPPS told the POA it would pay in June salaries with arrears. Not independently confirmed, so check your payslip.
- Payment Plus is now £23 an hour (was £22). London differentials rose 3.5%.
- Next: the 2027/28 round formally started on 15 July 2026. No timetable, evidence deadline, recommendation or award has been published.
- Strike: not lawful for prison officers in England and Wales. Pay runs through the Review Body.
How the 2026/27 and 2027/28 rounds have gone
Every dated event below links to the source we opened. 4 of the 5 2026/27 stages are confirmed; the payment stage is reported but unconfirmed. Not-yet-published stages are shown as exactly that, with no invented dates.
2026/27 round: England and Wales
- Confirmed
HMPPS and unions give evidence to the PSPRB
HMPPS proposed 2.5% for most staff (3.0% for Band 2 including 0.1% for the National Living Wage); the POA asked for 6.3% or a restructure to spot rates; PCS asked for 10% for Band 2. The report records that the Government's evidence arrived a month late, which pushed the timetable back.
PSPRB 25th Report (paras 1.9, 4.13) and HMPPS written evidence - Confirmed
PSPRB Twenty-Fifth Report published
The Pay Review Body recommended 3.5% consolidated and pensionable on Band 3 to 12 pay points and spot rates, 3.5% on top of the National Living Wage for Band 2, one pay point for Bands 3 and 5, 3 1/3% progression for Bands 8 to 11, London differentials up 3.5% and Payment Plus up £1 to £23 an hour.
GOV.UK: PSPRB Twenty-Fifth Report - Confirmed
Government accepts all 12 recommendations
The Justice Secretary accepted the recommendations in full. The Minister's July remit letter confirms the Government 'accepted all recommendations from the PSPRB for the 2026/27 pay round', at least 3.5% for all operational prison staff. The text of the Written Ministerial Statement itself could not be opened by us, so acceptance is cited from the news report and the remit letter.
Civil Service World, 'Prison staff to get 3.5% pay rise'; MoJ remit letter 15 Jul 2026 - Confirmed
Award takes effect (backdated for those paid later)
The recommended rates apply from 1 April 2026. Anyone paid the new rates after that date is owed arrears back to 1 April.
PSPRB 25th Report, recommendations 1 to 12 - Reported, not confirmed
Award paid in June salaries, with arrears
The POA's April circular quotes HMPPS saying, because of payroll provider capacity, it intended to implement the award in June salaries with backdating to 1 April. Civil Service World reported payment by the end of June. We have not found an HMPPS page confirming the award was actually paid, so this is reported, not confirmed. Check your own June and July payslips.
POA CIRC 038 (April 2026), quoting HMPPS
2027/28 round
- Confirmed
Remit letter formally starts the 2027/28 pay round
The Minister wrote to PSPRB Chair Tijs Broeke. Pay must be funded from departmental budgets with no additional funding; the Ministry will aim to meet PSPRB deadlines and bring the evidence process forward; the PSPRB is asked to report at the earliest point it can. No restrictions on the Review Body were stated.
GOV.UK: remit letter for the PSPRB 2027 England and Wales pay round - Not yet published
Government and union evidence deadlines
We could not find a published timetable or evidence deadline for the 2027 round on the PSPRB or MoJ pages. The Review Body said it hoped Government evidence would arrive on time so staff could be paid the 2027 award in April 2027 pay. That is a hope, not a timetable.
No source yet. Context: PSPRB 25th Report, executive summary - Not yet published
PSPRB Twenty-Sixth Report and recommendations
Not yet published. The Review Body has said it will cover Payment Plus, unsocial working hours for Bands 2 to 5 and 7 to 11, Care and Maintenance of Dogs and the PEI payment in the 2027 Report. Until it is published, the Band 2 25% unsocial hours payment and the £1,500 PEI payment stay as they are.
No source yet. Scope: PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix H - Not yet published
Government decision on the 2027/28 award
Not yet published. The Government decides whether to accept the recommendations. Last year it accepted all 12. In 2018/19 it reduced the recommended award. Nothing in the 2027 remit letter limits the Review Body, but pay must be found from existing budgets.
No source yet - Not yet published
Effective date and payment of any 2027/28 award
Not yet published. This year's award took effect on 1 April and was paid in June with arrears. The Review Body's stated aim is April 2027 pay, but no date has been confirmed.
No source yet
Related context (not part of the pay round)
- Source linked
Workforce statistics to 30 June 2026
Band 3 to 5 prison officers stood at 22,001 FTE, down 701 on the year. In the 12 months to 30 June 2026 there were 2,116 officer appointments and 2,095 officer leavers; the officer resignation rate was 5.6%.
HMPPS Workforce Quarterly, June 2026 - Source linked
POA says it raised pay and the strike ban with ministers
The POA General Secretary's circular says he raised pay and the Section 127 strike ban with the Prime Minister on 7 September and with ministers on 8 September, and planned a right-to-strike fringe at Labour Party Conference on 28 September. This is the union's own account. Prison officers in England and Wales cannot lawfully take industrial action.
POA CIRC 079 (union statement) - Source linked
Sentencing Act early-release changes start in stages
The Prison Reform Trust's guide (September 2026) says the new early-release model began on 1 October 2026 for shorter sentences, with later tranches from 13 October, 10 November and through to June 2027, after earlier exclusions announced on 4 and 30 August. It warns further changes cannot be ruled out. Effects on prison staffing and pay have not been published.
Prison Reform Trust, The Sentencing Act 2026 (updated September 2026)
Old and new pay by band
National 2025/26 against 2026/27, then the published 2026/27 London rates. 37-hour week including the unsocial hours allowance, the figures HMPPS advertises. These are scale changes before any pay point move.
| Band and point | National 2025/26 | National 2026/27 | Rise a year | Outer London 2026/27 | Inner London 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 (25% allowance) | £30,659 | £31,761 | +£1,102 | £36,051 | £38,284 |
| Band 3, point 1 | £33,746 | £34,928 | +£1,182 | £38,840 | £40,876 |
| Band 3, point 2 | £34,927 | £36,150 | +£1,223 | £40,199 | £42,305 |
| Band 3, point 3 | £35,533 | £36,778 | +£1,245 | £40,896 | £43,039 |
| Band 4 (spot rate) | £39,930 | £41,328 | +£1,398 | £45,446 | £47,590 |
| Band 5, point 1 | £43,381 | £44,900 | +£1,519 | £48,832 | £50,876 |
| Band 5, point 2 | £44,411 | £45,966 | +£1,555 | £49,990 | £52,084 |
| Band 5, point 3 | £45,464 | £47,057 | +£1,593 | £51,175 | £53,318 |
Source: PSPRB Twenty-Fifth Report, Appendix E; HMPPS Prison and Probation Jobs. Our arithmetic for the rise. London 2025/26 figures are not in our verified data, so the modeller derives them from the published differential. A point 1 Band 3 officer who also moved up a pay point goes from £33,746 to £36,150, +£2,404 a year (National, 37 hours including the 20% allowance).
For 38 to 41 hour contracts, Band 2, Bands 7 to 12 and every allowance, see prison officer pay bands and the full 2026/27 pay rise guide, which goes through all twelve recommendations.
What is my pay rise, and my back pay?
Pick your band, pay point, hours and where you work. You get old against new pay, the monthly and yearly difference, back pay, and an approximate take-home figure. The calculation runs in your browser.
Your details
Free| Where the rise comes from | £ a year |
|---|---|
| 3.5% scale increase | +£1,182 |
| Pay point move (Band 3, point 1 to 2) | +£1,222 |
| Total change | +£2,404 |
Illustrative planning estimate based on published rules, not financial, legal, pension or tax advice. Your payroll record, contract and scheme administrator control your actual position.
"I heard…"
Things people say in the canteen and online, and what we can ground in a source. If we cannot ground it, it is not on this list.
"The pay rise has been paid in June with back pay."
Reported, not confirmed. The POA's April circular quotes HMPPS saying it intended to implement the award in June salaries, backdated to 1 April, and Civil Service World said payment by the end of June. We found no HMPPS page confirming it. Check your June and July payslips; if the new rate is missing, ask payroll. POA CIRC 038
"We were awarded 6.3%."
No. 6.3% was the POA's request in its evidence for Bands 2 to 5. The Review Body recommended 3.5% and the Government accepted that. The HMPPS proposal was lower, at 2.5% for most staff. PSPRB 25th Report
"Everyone got exactly 3.5%."
Not exactly. 3.5% went on the pay points and spot rates, but Band 3 and Band 5 staff also moved up a pay point, Band 2 also had the National Living Wage rise, Bands 8 to 11 had 3 1/3% progression, and closed-grade staff who did not opt in got a non-consolidated 3.5% payment instead. PSPRB 25th Report, recommendations 1 to 8
"Payment Plus is going up to £25 or £30."
It rose to £23 an hour from 1 April 2026. HMPPS proposed £25 and the POA asked for £30; neither was adopted. The Review Body says it will review Payment Plus in its 2027 Report once HMPPS completes its own review. What that review will conclude has not been published. PSPRB 25th Report, rec 9 and Appendix H
"We'll get our next rise in April 2027."
That is the Review Body's stated hope, not a timetable. It said it hopes Government evidence will arrive on time so staff get the 2027 award in April 2027 pay, but this year's evidence arrived a month late. No 2027 evidence deadlines have been published that we can find. Remit letter, 15 July 2026
"Prison officers are about to strike."
Not lawfully. Prison officers in England and Wales cannot take industrial action (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 127). The POA says it is campaigning to restore the right and raised it with ministers in September; we found no strike ballot or walkout in recent months. That is the union's campaign, not a change in the law. POA CIRC 079 (union statement)
"The Government can just ignore the Pay Review Body."
The Government decides whether to accept recommendations. It accepted all 12 in 2026. In 2018/19 it paid less than the PSPRB recommended (2.0% consolidated plus 0.75% non-consolidated against 2.75% recommended). So acceptance is likely, not guaranteed. PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix I
"Scotland and Northern Ireland got the same."
No. Scotland is outside the PSPRB and has its own deal. Northern Ireland's 2026/27 round was activated on 5 March and the PSPRB responded on 27 May, but we have not found the outcome. GOV.UK, NI activation response
If a 2027/28 award lands at 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%
No figure has been published. This is plain arithmetic on today's pay so you can see the scale of each outcome, not a prediction of what the Review Body or Government will do.
| Pay point | 2026/27 pay | At 2% | At 3% | At 4% | At 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3, point 1 (National, 37h) | £34,928 | +£699 (+£58 a month) | +£1,048 (+£87 a month) | +£1,397 (+£116 a month) | +£1,746 (+£146 a month) |
| Band 3, point 3 (National, 37h) | £36,778 | +£736 (+£61 a month) | +£1,103 (+£92 a month) | +£1,471 (+£123 a month) | +£1,839 (+£153 a month) |
| Band 5, point 3 (National, 37h) | £47,057 | +£941 (+£78 a month) | +£1,412 (+£118 a month) | +£1,882 (+£157 a month) | +£2,353 (+£196 a month) |
Arithmetic only: pay x percentage. Does not include pay point progression, supplements or allowance changes. Use the modeller for your own band and London.
Accepted in full, paid on time
This is what happened in 2026: recommendations accepted on publication, effective 1 April, arrears paid from June. The scale change lands on your gross pay straight away; see the modeller for take-home.
Accepted but paid late
The rise is still backdated to the effective date, but the timing of the cash moves. Last year the payment slipped to June because of payroll capacity. Arrears appear on the payslip for the month they are paid, so that month looks unusual.
Reduced by Government
It has happened: in 2018/19 the Government paid less than the Review Body recommended. Nothing in the 2027 remit letter suggests it will, but pay must be found within existing budgets.
A multi-year deal
The Review Body invited the POA to discuss a two-year deal with HMPPS and other unions before the remit letter. We have found no outcome. A deal would change the timetable, so watch the sources below.
Open the full calculator for the take-home view and 2027/28 what-ifs, or see pay against inflation to put the 3.5% in context.
Check these before you trust a rumour
We link out and never copy. Official pages are decisions; union circulars and trade press are reports of them.
Latest from our news hub
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The terms you will see
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PSPRB | Prison Service Pay Review Body: independent body that recommends pay for most operational prison staff in England and Wales. Its recommendations are not binding. |
| Remit letter | The Minister's letter that formally starts a pay round and sets what the Review Body should consider. The 2027/28 one is dated 15 July 2026. |
| Consolidated | Added to base pay, so it carries into future years and counts for pension. The 3.5% for Bands 3 to 12 is consolidated. |
| Non-consolidated | A one-off or separate payment that does not become part of base pay, for example Payment Plus and market supplements. |
| Pay point | A step on a Band 3 or Band 5 scale (three points). Moving up one raises your base pay. |
| UWH | Unsocial Working Hours allowance: 20% of contracted hours for Bands 3 to 5 (25% for Band 2 for now), pensionable. Published Band 3 salaries include it. |
| ACH / ACHP | Additional Committed Hours, and the pensionable version. These make the 38, 39, 40 and 41 hour contract figures. |
| Back pay (arrears) | The difference between the old and new rate for months already worked, paid once the new rate is processed. |
| Fair and Sustainable | The HMPPS pay structure (Bands 2 to 12) that over 99% of the remit group are on. |
| Section 127 | The part of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 that makes inducing prison officers to take industrial action an offence. |
Prison officer pay rise: FAQs
What is the prison officer pay rise for 2026/27?
A consolidated, pensionable 3.5% on the Band 3 to 12 pay points and spot rates, effective 1 April 2026, plus one pay point for most Band 3 and Band 5 staff. Band 2 gets 3.5% on top of the National Living Wage rise. The Government accepted all 12 PSPRB recommendations. See the pay by band table above.
When will I get my back pay?
HMPPS told the POA it intended to pay the award in June 2026 salaries with arrears to 1 April; Civil Service World reported payment by the end of June. We have not found an HMPPS page confirming this, so check your payslips. If you have not received the new rate, ask payroll. Use the back pay calculator to estimate the amount.
How much is my pay rise in pounds?
It depends on band, pay point, hours and location. A National Band 3 officer on 37 hours gained +£1,182 to +£1,245 a year from the scale change before any pay point move. The modeller above shows your own figures, including London.
When is the next prison officer pay award?
Not announced. The 2027/28 round formally started with the Minister's remit letter on 15 July 2026. We have found no published timetable, evidence deadline, recommendation or Government decision. The Review Body's stated hope is that the award can be in April 2027 pay, but no date is confirmed.
Will there be a 2027/28 pay rise percentage soon?
We cannot say, and we do not guess a number. The remit letter says pay must be funded within departmental budgets with no additional funding. Any figure you see online before the PSPRB reports is speculation unless it links to a primary source. The illustrations on this page are arithmetic, not forecasts.
Can prison officers strike over pay?
No. In England and Wales it is unlawful to induce prison officers to take industrial action, and the POA is under a High Court injunction. The POA says it is campaigning to restore the right. Pay therefore runs through the Pay Review Body process. See our strike and industrial action guide.
Does the 3.5% apply to Payment Plus and market supplements?
Payment Plus rose by £1 to £23 an hour (about 4.5%). Market supplements are not part of the 3.5%: they run to at least March 2027 at the current amounts and Aylesbury, Grendon, Standford Hill and Huntercombe were stepped down. See market supplements.
What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?
They are separate. Scotland has its own Scottish Prison Service deal. In Northern Ireland the 2026/27 round was activated on 5 March 2026 and the PSPRB responded on 27 May, but we have not found the outcome. Our Scotland and Northern Ireland guides explain what is verified.
How do I know this page is up to date?
It is checked by hand against the sources listed at the bottom, and the date at the top (3 October 2026) is the date of the last check, not the date of the last news. We only record an event when we can link a source. Where we could not confirm something we mark it unverified instead of leaving it out.
Is this site official?
No. Prison Officer Pay is independent and not affiliated with HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, the POA or any union. Check your own payslip, contract and payroll team for your actual position.
Where every claim comes from
- GOV.UK: PSPRB Twenty-Fifth Report on England and Wales 2026 (26 March 2026) and the full report
- GOV.UK: remit letter for the PSPRB 2027 England and Wales pay round (15 July 2026)
- Civil Service World: prison staff to get 3.5% pay rise
- POA CIRC 031, CIRC 038 and CIRC 079 (union statements)
- HMPPS Prison and Probation Jobs: prison officer pay
- HMPPS Workforce Quarterly, June 2026
- HMPPS written evidence to the PSPRB 2026/27
Work out your own pay rise
Free, no account needed. Old against new pay, back pay and a take-home estimate in a minute.