Prison Officer Salary Guide: What You Take Home After Tax and Medicare

Prison Officer Salary: What You Can Expect to Earn

If you're considering a career as a prison officer in Australia, the salary varies by state, employer, and experience. Public sector roles, such as those with the WA Department of Justice, offer a starting training salary of $75,520 per annum plus super, rising to $97,610–$111,150 for shift-working officers . In the private sector, the Fair Work Ombudsman's Corrections and Detention Award sets minimum rates: a Correctional Officer Level 1 earns $28.32 per hour, or $1,076.20 per week .

Nationally, the median full-time weekly earnings for prison officers is $2,080, according to Jobs and Skills Australia . That's almost identical to the ABS full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, and well above the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week.

How Prison Officer Salary Compares to Benchmarks

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. A prison officer at the Award minimum of $28.32 per hour already earns 7% more. At the median of $2,080 per week, prison officers earn more than double the minimum wage and sit right on the average full-time ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. This makes the prison officer salary a solid middle-income occupation, with opportunities to earn more through shift penalties, overtime, and regional allowances.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay depends on your taxable income, which includes your base salary plus any allowances (like shift loading or regional incentives). For the 2026–27 tax year, the tax rates are:

• $0–$18,200: Nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% on taxable income. The latest single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most prison officers will be well above that, so expect the full levy.

For example, a prison officer earning $100,000 per year (excluding super) would pay approximately $24,867 in income tax (after the low-income tax offset) plus $2,000 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of about $73,133 per year, or $1,406 per week. If you earn $110,000, take-home is roughly $78,000 per year. Use our Take-home pay guide for a personalised estimate.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

Most prison officer salaries are advertised as "plus super". The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So on a $100,000 salary, your employer adds $12,000 to your super fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay. Some employers also offer salary packaging options, such as novated leases or additional super contributions, which can reduce your taxable income.

Allowances and Penalty Rates

Prison officers often work shift rosters, including nights, weekends, and public holidays. The Award provides penalty rates: Saturday work pays 150% of the ordinary rate, Sunday 200%, and public holidays 250%. Night work (6pm–6am Monday to Friday) attracts an extra 15%. Regional incentives, like those in WA, add $111.90 or $223.81 per fortnight depending on location. These extras can significantly boost your annual salary and take-home pay.

Career Progression and Earnings Growth

Starting as a trainee custodial officer ($75,520 in WA), you can progress to Correctional Officer Level 1, then Level 2, and eventually to Correctional Supervisor (up to $1,387.40 per week under the Award). With experience, you could earn well above $111,000 per year. The Roles page lists other justice and security careers.