Hourly wage employment for former prison officers and warders

Have you previously worked as a prison officer or turnkey at the Danish Prisons and wish to be re-employed?

When you are rehired as hourly paid, it will not be on civil service terms. That means that as a former prison officer or turnkey, you can take as many shifts as you prefer, but up to 25 hours per week on average. If you are a retired prison officer or turnkey, you can take up to 37 hours per week. Your employment with the Danish Prisons is a secondary occupation, so you may have another job alongside.

You will be paid an hourly wage that depends on your previous seniority* as a prison officer or turnkey.

Hourly wage rates are (as of 1 November 2025)

• Seniority of 0-4 years as trained: 193.61 per hour.
• Seniority of 5-9 years as trained: 206.11 per hour
• Seniority of 10 years or more as trained: 218.60 DKK per hour.

In addition to the hourly wage, local permanent and temporary allowances or one-off remunerations can be agreed.

The Danish Prisons pays pension contributions on your base pay and on any permanent and temporary allowances.

As hourly paid you can also take extra shifts with a percentage supplement in accordance with guideline provisions.

What does it take to become hourly paid?

• You must have completed the training as a prison officer or turnkey.
• You must continue to be suitable, including health-wise, to perform duties in a secure manner.
• If you have been away from the Danish Prisons for more than 10 years, your competences must be clarified before re-employment.

Your working time as hourly paid

• You can be employed either in a fixed-term or a permanent position at one or more institutions.
• Working hours can amount to up to 25 hours per week. The Danish Prisons cannot guarantee a fixed weekly number of hours.

What you should know about rosters

• You receive a duty roster for one month at a time with 14 days' notice.
• You can take unfilled shifts and receive a percentage allowance according to guideline provisions. You will be paid for the planned shifts during sickness.

If you wish to work more than 25 hours per week

If you wish to work more than 25 hours per week, you must be re-employed as a civil servant, and your employment will become your main occupation.

Questions regarding employment and contracts

HR IN THE PRISON DISTRICTS EAST should be contacted by email [email protected] or phone 7255 4585. HR IN THE PRISON DISTRICTS WEST should be contacted by email [email protected] or phone 7255 7575.

Questions regarding recruitment and competence assessment

Should be sent by email [email protected] or phone 7255 3965.

Application deadline: 31 December 2027

Location: The whole country (including the Faroe Islands)