How much money does a prisoner earn for being in jail in Spain in 2025: average salary and remuneration

The time a person must spend in prison to serve the sentence imposed by the judge can be an unpleasant experience for many inmates . However, this stay can be made more bearable through work . In this regard, Spanish penitentiary institutions allow inmates who wish to apply for a job in prison in exchange for a small salary . But how much does this salary amount to in Spain?

It's worth noting that prison work not only provides financial compensation but is also positively valued in parole evaluations . It also allows inmates to acquire skills and work experience that could be useful once they regain their freedom and to fill the many free hours they have in prison, providing them with a productive activity to escape the monotony.

According to data from Penitentiary Institutions, in June 2024, there were 11,375 inmates employed out of the 55,000 inmates in the country's prisons, meaning that 20% of inmates perform some type of work in Spanish prisons. These activities are mainly carried out in service workshops or in-house production , such as laundry and bakery, and in external companies , according to the Autonomous Agency for Penitentiary Labor and Training for Employment (OATPFE).

In Spain, the average prisoner's salary is between €3.24 and €5.68 per hour , or about €200 to €300 per month . Although these figures are well below the minimum wage , demand for these jobs is high , as noted by the Andalusian Human Rights Association (APDHA), which claims there are more prisoners interested in working than there are job openings .

However, prison labor has been the subject of several controversies , and it has been repeatedly alleged that large companies benefit from this cheap labor , also avoiding the social security contributions required by a worker.