Probation officers: average salary and pay in the UK
The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) puts median weekly pay for full-time probation officers at £855.30 in April 2025; no reliable annual figure is published.
What the figures show
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
From £664.40 in 2021, the median is up 28.7%, close to the 25.7% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 11,900 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | £855.30 | £23.13 | £623.10 | £22.68 |
| Mean | £854.50 | £22.65* | £700.70* | £22.58 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £37,577 | £664.40 | £17.45 | £33,048 | £601.20 | 15* |
| 2023 revised | £38,652 | £734.40 | £19.85 | £29,817 | £571.80 | – |
| 2024 revised | £35,688 | £666.20 | £18.01 | £33,276 | £648.90 | – |
| 2025 provisional | – | £855.30 | £23.13 | – | £623.10 | – |
Probation officers by region
UK: 11,900 (± 4,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What probation officers do
Probation officers work to rehabilitate offenders. They supervise, counsel and help them before trial, during any prison or community sentence and on release from prison (ONS SOC 2020, 2462)
Also covers: inspector (National Probation Service), probation officer, youth justice officer, chief probation officer, community payback officer and community service officer.
- Produces pre-sentence reports to the court about an individual’s crime, their personal circumstances, the suitability of sentencing, the likelihood of re-offending and the future risk to the public
- Enforces court orders and serves the public by providing a wide range of supervision programmes for those in receipt of a community sentence
- Draws up probation plans with offenders and helps them follow it, advises them on any work and helps them with any family or social problems
- Works with prisoners in giving advice on problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, addressing training needs, finding work and getting accommodation
- Keeps accurate and comprehensive records
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications or with relevant experience. In England and Wales all candidates must complete a two year Diploma in Probation studies. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, entry requirements are the same as for social workers. Background checks including a DBS check are required.
Related
Welfare professionals (median £41,867) · Social workers · Clergy · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026