Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 16 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 March 2026. It was answered by Lord Timpson (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prison Governors: Pay

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the median salary for prison governors in England and Wales in each year since 1996–97 in (1) cash terms, and (2) real terms adjusted for inflation; and what was the percentage salary increase in each of those terms between 1996–97 and 2025–26.

Answer

The information requested on the median salaries for prison governors in England and Wales from 1996 – 2017 in cash terms is not held on the Department’s payroll system. Likewise, the Department does not hold the median salary during the entire period from 1996 – 2026 in real terms adjusted for inflation.

For the median salary in cash terms for the 2018-19 period and subsequent years up until 2025, please see the following table:

Role

Mar-18

Mar-19

Mar-20

Mar-21

Mar-22

Mar-23

Mar-24

Mar-25

Governor

£82,139

£85,369

£90,829

£95,453

£92,976

£98,407

£102,685

£111,026

Deputy Governor

£57,168

£60,980

£64,816

£69,128

£68,470

£70,226

£75,845

£84,684

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL15612
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Pay Prison governors
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk