ANZSCO 4421

Prison Officers

Overview

EMPLOYED

24,300

PART-TIME SHARE

6%

FEMALE SHARE

32%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,810

MEDIAN AGE

43

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

700

About this data

Summary

Prison Officers supervise and control the activities of inmates in prisons and other correctional institutions.

Tasks

  • Observing the conduct and behaviour of prisoners to prevent disturbances and escapes
  • Inspecting and maintaining the security of locks, window bars, grilles, doors and gates
  • Supervising prisoners during work assignments, recreational periods, sporting activities and meals
  • Assisting with the implementation of education, rehabilitation and other programs organised for prisoners
  • Searching prisoners and cells for weapons, drugs and other contraband items
  • Patrolling assigned areas and reporting breaches of rules, unsatisfactory attitudes and prisoner adjustment problems
  • Requisitioning prisoners' clothing, toiletries, reading material and other allowable items
  • Supervising prisoners in transit between courts, prisons and other facilities

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report. Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Prison Officers All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 94% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 43 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,810 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $44 $43

    Industries

    Prison Officers work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    33.9%

    Victoria

    20.8%

    Queensland

    19.2%

    South Australia

    4.7%

    Tasmania

    1.2%

    Northern Territory

    2.8%

    Australian Capital Territory

    0.4%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Prison Officers All Occupations
    Median age 43 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 32% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Prison Officers
    15–19 5.2 0.1
    20–24 9.1 3.0
    25–34 22.7 21.5
    35–44 22.3 23.5
    45–54 20.4 28.0
    55–59 8.8 12.0
    60–64 6.5 8.1
    65 and Over 4.9 3.8

    Education

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Prison Officers
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 3.5
    Bachelor degree 23.2 9.7
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 15.3
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 45.1
    Year 12 15.9 12.3
    Year 11 4.0 3.4
    Year 10 and below 9.7 6.7
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - August 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_august_2024.xlsx9088333

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.