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Prison instructor

Also called prison teacher, prison educator, teacher in prisons

Prison instructors educate legal offenders, including prisoners, on social rehabilitation and correctional behaviour. They assist prisoners in gaining skills which could facilitate their reintegration into society and increase their chances at finding employment after release. Prison instructors analyse the students' individual learning needs, plan and prepare teaching materials and sessions and update their learning records. They also ensure the working area and materials are safe from danger and accounted for, and supervise the students at all times.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects21 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Teaching professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,700 (Hungary) to €9,900 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Teaching professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Teaching professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified · ILO

What you'd do

Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified · ILO
  • In such cases tasks performed would include -
  • Assessing students‚Äô level of ability and determining learning needs
  • Planning, preparing and delivering programmes of study, lessons and workshops for individual students and groups
  • Preparing and presenting material on the theory of the subject area being studied
  • Instructing and demonstrating practical aspects of the subject area being studied
  • Assigning exercises and work relevant to students‚Äô level of ability, interests and aptitude
  • Assessing students and offering advice, criticism and encouragement
  • Revising curricula, course content, course materials and methods of instruction
  • Preparing students for examinations and assessments
  • Counselling students regarding educational issues such as course and programme selection, class scheduling, school adjustment, truancy, study habits and career planning
  • Counselling students to help them understand and overcome personal, social or behavioural problems affecting their education
  • Preparing students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks
Encourage students to acknowledge their achievementsAssist students in their learningAssess studentsGuarantee students' safetyApply teaching strategies+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Correctional Officers and Jailers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as teaching professionals in the EU
9.04m10.91m10.66m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,551,000 replacing leavers 253,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Teaching professionals21
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of teaching professionals not elsewhere classified, 6 a surplus.
Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,700 a month (Hungary) to €9,900 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in teacher training with subject specialisation is the usual route.

Highest qualification of teaching professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 88%Vocational 5%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 1%
Fields that teach it
Teacher training with subject specialisation · Psychology
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Education graduates in a matching job
74% in the EU

823 institutions in the EU offer education bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.33 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Revising curricula, course content, course materials and methods of instruction0.53
Preparing and presenting material on the theory of the subject area being studied0.49
Planning, preparing and delivering programmes of study, lessons and workshops for individual students and groups0.36
Assigning exercises and work relevant to students’ level of ability, interests and aptitude0.34
Preparing students for examinations and assessments0.34
Assessing students’ level of ability and determining learning needs0.31
Counselling students regarding educational issues such as course and programme selection, class scheduling, school adjustment, truancy, study habits and career planning0.31
Assessing students and offering advice, criticism and encouragement0.29
Preparing students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks0.28
Counselling students to help them understand and overcome personal, social or behavioural problems affecting their education0.27
Instructing and demonstrating practical aspects of the subject area being studied0.26
In such cases tasks performed would include -0.15

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for teaching professionals not elsewhere classified. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).