Police Pay Calculator UK 2025/26
Calculate your take-home police pay after income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions. Covers all ranks from Police Constable to Commander using 2025/26 Home Office pay scales. Includes London weighting and Scotland options.
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Police Pay Structure 2025/26: Home Office Pay Scales Explained
Police officer pay in England and Wales is determined annually by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), formerly the Police Pay Review Body, which advises the Home Secretary. The Home Office then sets the official pay scales that apply to all territorial police forces in England and Wales. Scotland has Police Scotland, which operates its own pay scales and is covered by a separate Scottish Government pay review process, though scales are broadly similar.
For 2025/26, the PRRB recommended a pay uplift of approximately 4.75% for most police ranks, following years of real-terms pay cuts since the 2010 austerity period. This uplift was accepted in full by the Home Office and applied from September 2025. Despite this increase, police pay in real terms remains below 2010 levels when adjusted for inflation.
Full Police Pay Scales by Rank 2025/26
The following table shows the complete pay scale ranges for all police officer ranks in England and Wales under the 2025/26 Home Office determination:
| Rank | Minimum (Year 1) | Maximum (Top of Scale) | Typical Years to Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police Constable (PC) | £28,551 | £46,044 | 7+ years |
| Sergeant | £46,044 | £53,660 | 5-6 years |
| Inspector | £57,162 | £60,585 | 3-4 years |
| Chief Inspector | £62,292 | £65,860 | 3-4 years |
| Superintendent | £82,881 | £91,404 | 3-5 years |
| Chief Superintendent | £91,404 | £96,776 | 3-5 years |
| Commander / T/Asst Chief Constable | £96,776 | £102,148 | Variable |
| Deputy Chief Constable | £102,148 | £118,000+ | Variable |
| Chief Constable | £130,000 | £200,000+ | Variable |
The Police Pay Increment System
Unlike many public sector roles, police officer pay is primarily determined by an increment system rather than annual appraisal. Officers progress through pay points automatically based on length of service at a given rank, subject to satisfactory performance. A Police Constable typically has seven pay points, moving from the starting rate of £28,551 to the maximum of £46,044 over approximately seven years.
Once an officer is promoted to a new rank, they typically start at the minimum pay point for that rank. This can sometimes mean that a long-serving Constable at the top of their scale sees a modest pay increase on first promotion to Sergeant, since the Sergeant minimum is the same as the Constable maximum (£46,044).
London Weighting: Metropolitan, City, and BTP
Officers serving in forces based in Greater London receive a London Weighting allowance in addition to their basic pay. This reflects the substantially higher cost of living in the capital, particularly housing costs. The three main London forces and their allowances are:
- Metropolitan Police Service (Met): The largest police force in the UK. Constables receive approximately £2,841 London Weighting; Sergeants £4,539; Inspector/Chief Inspector £5,826; Superintendent and above £7,212.
- City of London Police: Polices the Square Mile financial district. Allowances are similar to the Met.
- British Transport Police (BTP): Officers based in London depots receive London Weighting. BTP has its own pay determination process but broadly mirrors Home Office rates.
Police Pension Scheme 2015 (PPS 2015)
All new police officers joining since April 2015 are enrolled in the New Police Pension Scheme 2015 (PPS 2015), a career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme. Under CARE, officers accrue a fraction of their pensionable pay as a pension benefit each year. The accrual rate is 1/55.3 of pensionable pay annually.
Employee contribution rates under PPS 2015 are tiered by salary:
- Up to £27,047: 12.44% of pensionable pay
- £27,048 to £51,515: 13.44%
- £51,516 to £153,336: 13.78%
- Over £153,337: 14.25%
Officers who joined before April 2015 and were on the 1987 Police Pension Scheme (PPS 1987) or 2006 scheme retain their accrued benefits under those earlier schemes for service before April 2015, then accrue under PPS 2015 for subsequent service. The 1987 scheme was extremely generous by modern standards, offering a half-pay pension after 25 years, which is why police officers from that era could retire in their late 40s or early 50s on substantial pensions.
The Normal Pension Age (NPA) under PPS 2015 is 60 for most officers. Officers may choose to retire earlier with an actuarially reduced pension, or later for an enhanced benefit.
Overtime, Shift Allowances, and Unsocial Hours Pay
Police Constables and Sergeants are eligible for overtime pay at time-and-a-third for the first nine hours beyond the standard working week, and time-and-a-half thereafter. Officers at Inspector rank and above are not entitled to overtime pay in the same way, as their pay is considered to cover the demands of the role.
Unsocial hours supplements (sometimes called shift allowances) are paid for work between 8pm and 6am. The standard rate is an additional allowance calculated as a percentage of the basic rate, typically around 15-20% for overnight shifts. Many officers working complex shift patterns including nights find that their effective take-home pay is meaningfully higher than their basic salary alone would suggest.
Student Officer Pay During Training
When officers join a police force, they typically begin as student officers undertaking a Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) programme. During the initial training and development phase, student officers are paid on the Police Constable minimum rate from their first day of appointment — they are not on a lower training rate. This is a significant change from historical practice in some forces. The PEQF can take between two and three years to complete, after which officers receive their full constable confirmation.
Some forces also operate Police Now and Direct Entry Inspector/Superintendent schemes, which offer alternative routes into policing for graduates and experienced professionals. Pay under these schemes mirrors the standard rank pay scales.
Special Constables: Unpaid Volunteers
Special Constables are volunteer police officers who have the same powers as regular officers when on duty. They are unpaid (expenses only) and typically serve a minimum of about 200 hours per year. They do not receive pension benefits, National Insurance credits, or salary. Special Constables often use the role as a route into regular policing; many forces give preference to Specials during recruitment rounds for regular constables.
Detective Roles and Pay
The detective branch of policing covers roles such as Detective Constable (DC), Detective Sergeant (DS), Detective Inspector (DI), and higher. The detective prefix does not in itself attract additional basic pay — a DC is paid on the Constable scale, a DS on the Sergeant scale, and so on. However, detective roles often generate additional earnings through:
- Overtime for complex investigations and court appearances
- Detective Allowance (where applicable in certain forces)
- Specialist unit supplements (Counter Terrorism, Serious Organised Crime, Cyber)
To become a detective, officers must pass the National Investigators Exam (NIE) and complete the Initial Crime Investigators Development Programme (ICIDP) or equivalent. Some forces now accept civilian investigators (Police Staff Investigators) who work alongside detective officers but have different terms and pay.
Police Pay Versus Inflation: The Real Terms Picture Since 2010
Police pay has suffered significant real-terms cuts since 2010. A freeze on pay was imposed from 2011, followed by a 1% cap for several years. When inflation peaked at over 11% in 2022, police pay increases of 2-3% meant substantial real-terms losses. Analysis by the Police Federation shows that by 2023, officers had lost approximately 17-20% of their real purchasing power compared to 2010 pay levels.
The 2023/24 award of 7% for Constables and Sergeants (4.75% for higher ranks) and further uplifts in 2024/25 and 2025/26 have partially addressed this, but have not fully restored real-terms pay. This pay erosion has contributed to retention difficulties, particularly in London and the South East where the cost of living is highest.
Police Pay Versus Other Emergency Services
How does police pay compare with other blue-light services? Broadly, police officers are paid similarly to NHS nurses and fire fighters at the lower end, but police rank structures mean higher earners progress further than equivalent NHS Band 5/6 staff. Paramedics on NHS Band 6 (£37,338 to £44,962) earn comparably to an experienced PC, while senior police officers significantly out-earn most clinical NHS roles. Fire fighters in England are represented by the National Joint Council (NJC) and typically earn £28,000 to £40,000 in the Firefighter role, similar to the PC scale.
Worked Examples: Real Police Pay Take-Home
Example 1: Newly Qualified PC in England (No London Weighting)
A newly appointed Police Constable earning £28,551 gross per year in England (no London weighting):
- Gross salary: £28,551
- Less pension contribution at 12.44%: £3,552
- Pensionable income for tax/NI: £28,551 (pension contributions do not reduce NI)
- Income tax (personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20%): £3,196
- National Insurance (8% on £12,570–£50,270): £1,278
- Annual take-home: approximately £20,525 (£1,710/month)
Example 2: Experienced Sergeant in London
A Sergeant at the top of scale (£53,660) plus London Weighting (£4,539) = £58,199 gross:
- Gross salary: £58,199
- Pension contribution at 13.44% of £58,199: £7,822
- Income tax: Personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20% on next £37,700 = £7,540, higher rate 40% on £8,199–£7,822 pension (complex; approx total tax £8,200)
- National Insurance: 8% on £12,570–£50,270 = £3,016; 2% on £50,270 to £58,199 = £159
- Annual take-home: approximately £38,960 (£3,247/month)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for a police officer in the UK?
As of 2025/26, a newly appointed Police Constable (PC) in England and Wales earns £28,551 in their first year under the Home Office pay scales. With London weighting added (for the Metropolitan Police), this rises to approximately £31,392 to £35,763 depending on specific allowances. Student officers during initial training are paid at the standard constable rate from day one. After completing probation and progressing through increments, pay rises to £46,044 at the top of the Constable scale, typically after 7 or more years of service.
How much do police officers earn after tax?
A newly qualified Police Constable earning £28,551 gross takes home approximately £20,500 per year (around £1,710 per month) after income tax, National Insurance, and the standard Police Pension Scheme contribution of 12.44%. An experienced Constable at the top of the scale (£46,044) takes home around £29,800 per year (approximately £2,480 per month). A Sergeant at the top of scale (£53,660) takes home roughly £34,500 per year. These figures vary based on pension tier, student loan repayments, and other deductions. Use the calculator above for personalised figures.
Do police officers get a pension?
Yes. Police officers are enrolled in the Police Pension Scheme 2015 (PPS 2015), a career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme. Officers accrue pension benefits equal to 1/55.3 of their pensionable pay each year. Employee contributions are tiered: officers earning up to £27,047 pay 12.44%, those earning £27,048 to £51,515 pay 13.44%, and those earning over £51,515 pay 13.78%. Officers who joined before April 2015 may still have benefits under the old 1987 or 2006 Police Pension Schemes for earlier service. The Normal Pension Age is 60 under PPS 2015.
What is London weighting for police officers?
Metropolitan Police officers receive a London Weighting allowance on top of their basic pay. For 2025/26, the London Weighting ranges from approximately £2,841 per year for Constables to £7,212 per year for Superintendents and above. Officers in the City of London Police and British Transport Police working in London receive similar allowances. This is designed to reflect the significantly higher cost of living in London. Met officers also benefit from the London Inner/Outer distinction in some allowances depending on their posting.
How long does it take to progress from PC to Sergeant?
There is no fixed minimum time, but in practice most officers apply for promotion after 5 to 7 years of service. Officers must pass the Police Promotion Qualification (PPQ) at Sergeant level, which involves written assessments, competency-based interviews, and role-play exercises. Some forces use different assessment processes. The Police Now and Direct Entry graduate schemes can accelerate promotion, with some reaching Inspector level within two years. However, these are competitive programmes with selective entry requirements.
What do Detective Constables get paid compared to uniform PCs?
Detective Constables (DCs) are paid on the same pay scale as uniform Police Constables. The detective prefix does not in itself attract additional base pay. However, detectives often earn more through overtime for complex investigations, court attendance, and in some forces a Detective Allowance. Specialist detective roles in Counter Terrorism, Serious Organised Crime, or cyber units may attract additional allowances of £2,000 to £5,000 per year depending on force and specialism. The route to DC typically involves the National Investigators Exam (NIE) and the ICIDP development programme.