Prison officer salary Victoria: award rates and minimum wage guide

Prison officer salary Victoria: award coverage versus award-free rates

When researching a prison officer salary Victoria, the first thing to understand is that almost all prison officers in the state are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. This means the legal minimum pay is not the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour but rather the higher rates set out in the relevant award. The two main awards are the Victorian Public Service Award 2016 (for public sector employees) and the Corrections and Detention (Private Sector) Award 2020 (for privately operated facilities). Award-free rates would only apply if an officer is not covered by any award or agreement, which is rare in this industry.

Public sector rates under the Victorian Public Service Award

The Victorian Public Service Award 2016 includes a Custodial Officers (COG) structure. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s consolidated award, the minimum salary for a COG 2A Prison Officer is $75,950 per year, based on a 76-hour fortnight . This is the base rate for a fully qualified prison officer after initial training. Higher classifications attract higher pay: a COG 2B Prison Officer starts at $88,092, and a COG 3 Senior Prison Officer ranges from $89,609 to $96,298. The Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety also advertises a starting salary of up to $93,938 per year, which includes penalty rates and allowances . These rates are significantly above the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week.

Private sector rates under the Corrections and Detention Award

For prison officers working in privately operated facilities, the Corrections and Detention (Private Sector) Award 2020 applies. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for this award, effective from 1 July 2026, lists the following minimum weekly rates for full-time employees :

• Trainee custodial officer: $1,001.20 per week ($26.35 per hour)
• Correctional officer level 1: $1,076.20 per week ($28.32 per hour)
• Correctional officer level 2: $1,173.10 per week ($30.87 per hour)
• Correctional supervisor level 1: $1,334.20 per week ($35.11 per hour)

These rates are the legal minimum under the award. Many employers pay above these rates, especially through enterprise agreements. The award also includes penalty rates for shiftwork, weekends, and public holidays, which can significantly increase total take-home pay.

How the national minimum wage applies

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week) is set by the Fair Work Commission. It applies only to employees who are not covered by any modern award or enterprise agreement. Since prison officers in Victoria are almost always covered by an award, the national minimum wage serves as a safety net. If an award rate were ever lower than the national minimum (which does not happen for these awards), the national minimum would override it. For award-free employees, such as some junior or trainee positions outside the award, the national minimum applies with possible lower rates for juniors, apprentices, or supported wages.

Comparing with average earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, and all employees averaged $1,579.20 per week. A prison officer at the COG 2A rate of $1,460.58 per week (calculated from $75,950 annually) is below the all-employees average but above the national minimum. However, when penalty rates and overtime are included, many prison officers earn considerably more. The Department of Justice’s advertised starting salary of up to $93,938 per year suggests that with penalties, a new officer can exceed the all-employees average.

Superannuation is paid on top

All salary figures discussed are before superannuation. Employers must pay an additional 12% superannuation guarantee on ordinary time earnings. For a prison officer on $75,950, that means an extra $9,114 per year contributed to their super fund. This is not deducted from the salary but paid on top.

Which minimum wage applies?

To determine the correct minimum wage for a prison officer in Victoria, you need to know whether the employer is a public sector agency (e.g., Department of Justice) or a private operator. The Which minimum wage applies guide can help you identify the right award. For detailed rate tables, see our Rate tables page. Always check the specific award or enterprise agreement, as it may set higher rates than the minimums listed here.

Summary

A prison officer salary Victoria is governed by either the Victorian Public Service Award (public sector) or the Corrections and Detention Award (private sector). The legal minimum is well above the national minimum wage, and penalty rates further boost earnings. Superannuation is an additional employer contribution. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies, but this is uncommon in the corrections industry.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.