A newly graduated prison officer in Chile earns CLP 1,169,235 a month before deductions, and pay rises with each promotion to CLP 2,507,753 as a senior warrant officer. These are the figures released with the 2026 admission process of Gendarmería de Chile, the institution that guards the country's prisons.
How much a prison officer earns by rank
| Rank | Monthly pay before deductions (CLP) |
|---|---|
| Gendarme (officer) | 1,169,235 |
| Second gendarme | 1,237,417 |
| Corporal | 1,510,648 |
| Second sergeant | 1,831,001 |
| Senior warrant officer | 2,507,753 |
The amounts are from Meganoticias, published in April 2026. They do not include legal deductions and can rise depending on the posting: there is a special allowance for those working at the far ends of the country. The report gives no figures for the commissioned ladder.
What it takes to become a prison officer
The 2026 call for the Gendarmería training school required:
- Nationality: Chilean.
- Age: between 18 and 25.
- Marital status: single.
- Education: at least the second year of secondary school completed.
- Military service status: up to date.
- Record: clean.
- Tattoos: allowed if not visible in uniform.
That call was for men only. Training lasts one year, is free, includes uniforms and pays a monthly stipend.
How much a prison officer earns compared with a police officer
| Prison officer | Carabinero (police) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay on graduation | 1,169,235 (before deductions, 2026) | 828,907 (net, 2025) |
| Top of the non-commissioned ladder | 2,507,753 | 2,266,887 |
The comparison is only indicative: Gendarmería figures are before deductions and from 2026; Carabineros figures are net and from 2025. Details are in how much a police officer earns in Chile.
Prison work is in the news outside Chile too: see the case of Texas prisons without air conditioning.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a newly graduated prison officer earn?
CLP 1,169,235 a month before deductions, according to the scale released in 2026.
What is the highest non-commissioned salary in Gendarmería?
The senior warrant officer's: CLP 2,507,753.
Up to what age can you apply?
The 2026 call accepted applicants aged 18 to 25.
