SPS salary 2026/27
The Scottish Prison Service runs Scotland's prisons. Its published medians include operational staff, which lifts the figures at the lower grades. Prison officers in England and Wales have their own pages.
Scottish Prison Service salaries by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £27,950* | £1,885 | 10 of 26 |
| AO | £33,460* | £2,198 | 3 of 73 |
| EO | £42,650 | £2,697 | 2 of 92 |
| HEO | £49,030* | £3,057 | 2 of 93 |
| SEO | £55,990* | £3,433 | 19 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £65,280* | £3,795 | 32 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £84,380* | £4,648 | 21 of 84 |
Median full-time salary at 31 March 2026 from Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics. * Our estimate from the official 2026 figure for the combined level and the 2025 figure for the grade. Rank compares SPS with every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade. Take-home is full time, alpha member, tax code 1257L, no student loan.
Second for EO and HEO
The Scottish Prison Service ranks 2nd of 92 at EO, with a median of £42,650, and 2nd of 93 at HEO. AO is 3rd of 73 at £33,460.
The lead disappears at senior grades, with SEO 19th of 93 and Grade 7 32nd of 91. From AO to EO the take-home difference is about £499 a month, one of the largest in the table.
Against the typical department
| Grade | SPS median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £27,950 | £27,440 | +£510 |
| AO | £33,460 | £28,100 | +£5,360 |
| EO | £42,650 | £32,460 | +£10,190 |
| HEO | £49,030 | £39,440 | +£9,590 |
| SEO | £55,990 | £48,220 | +£7,770 |
| Grade 7 | £65,280 | £63,110 | +£2,170 |
| Grade 6 | £84,380 | £78,270 | +£6,110 |
The typical department is the middle one when every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade is put in order, at 31 March 2026.
What each step up is worth
| Move | Extra gross a year | Extra take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| AA to AO | £5,510 | £314 |
| AO to EO | £9,190 | £499 |
| EO to HEO | £6,380 | £360 |
| HEO to SEO | £6,960 | £376 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £9,290 | £362 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £19,100 | £853 |
Extra take-home is smaller than the extra gross pay because of tax, National Insurance and the higher alpha contribution rate that applies as pay rises.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. SPS may also pay more in London and for specialist roles, and most departments have paid a 2026/27 award since 31 March 2026.
Common questions
How much does an AA earn at SPS?
The median AA salary at Scottish Prison Service was about £27,950 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,885 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an AO earn at SPS?
The median AO salary at Scottish Prison Service was about £33,460 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,198 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at SPS?
The median EO salary at Scottish Prison Service was £42,650 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,697 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does SPS pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At HEO, SPS ranks 2 of 93 departments that publish a figure. At AA it ranks 10 of 26.
What pension do SPS staff get?
Civil servants join the alpha pension scheme. You pay 4.6% to 8.05% of your pay depending on what you earn, and build 2.32% of your pensionable pay as pension each year.