How Much Do Police Officers Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to police officer salaries in the UK for 2026. Constable to Chief Constable pay scales, detective pay, overtime and allowances, regional differences, and police pension details.
·4 min read
Policing is a structured public sector career with clear pay scales, good benefits, and one of the strongest pensions available. Here’s a full breakdown of what police officers earn at every rank.
Police Constable Pay Scale (England & Wales 2025/26)
Pay Points
Pay Point
Salary
0 (starting)
£28,551
1
£31,674
2
£33,708
3
£36,408
4
£39,150
5
£42,330
6
£44,064
7 (top of scale)
£46,044
Progression
Factor
Details
Annual increments
One pay point per year (subject to performance)
Probation
2-year probationary period
Time to top of scale
Approximately 7 years
Performance requirement
Satisfactory performance to progress
Salary by Rank
England and Wales
Rank
Minimum
Maximum
Police Constable
£28,551
£46,044
Sergeant
£47,784
£52,977
Inspector
£58,332
£63,912
Chief Inspector
£63,912
£68,835
Superintendent
£77,835
£86,970
Chief Superintendent
£91,749
£95,604
Assistant Chief Constable
£115,350-£130,000
Varies by force
Deputy Chief Constable
£130,000-£175,000
Varies by force
Chief Constable
£157,000-£297,000+
Varies by force
Metropolitan Police (London) Additional Ranks
Rank
Salary Range
Commander
£130,000-£145,000
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
£155,000-£170,000
Assistant Commissioner
£205,000-£225,000
Deputy Commissioner
£260,000-£280,000
Commissioner
£292,938+
Detective and Specialist Pay
Detectives and specialist roles are paid at the same rank-based scale but may receive additional allowances.
Role
Rank/Pay
Additional
Detective Constable (DC)
Constable pay scale
No additional (detective status)
Detective Sergeant (DS)
Sergeant pay scale
No additional
Detective Inspector (DI)
Inspector pay scale
No additional
Firearms officer
Constable+ scale
Specialist allowance
Dog handler
Constable+ scale
Dog handler’s allowance
Covert/undercover officer
Constable+ scale
Additional risk allowance
Note: CID/detective roles carry the same base pay as uniformed equivalents
London and Regional Allowances
London Allowances
Allowance
Annual Value
London Allowance (Met Police)
£2,697
London Weighting (Met Police)
£4,338
South East Allowance (surrounding forces)
£2,000-£3,000
Total London Impact
Rank
Base
London Total
New constable
£28,551
£35,586
Top constable
£46,044
£53,079
Sergeant (mid)
£50,000
£57,035
Inspector (mid)
£61,000
£68,035
Overtime and Additional Payments
Overtime Rates
Circumstance
Rate
Overtime on normal working day
Time and a third
Rest day working (15+ days notice)
Time and a half
Rest day working (<15 days notice)
Double time
Public/bank holiday
Double time
Cancelled rest day (<8 days notice)
Double time
Shift and Other Allowances
Allowance
Value
Shift disturbance allowance
Up to 20% of basic pay
On-call allowance
£15-£25 per on-call session
Competence-related threshold payment (CRTP)
£1,224/year (experienced constables)
Dog handler’s allowance
Varies by force
Detective allowance
Some forces — not all
Plain clothes allowance
£250-£600/year
Overtime Earnings Example
Scenario (Constable, mid-scale ~£39,000)
Additional Annual
Regular overtime (4 hours/week)
£4,000-£6,000
Occasional rest day working
£2,000-£4,000
Events/operations (football, protests)
£3,000-£8,000
Typical total overtime
£3,000-£10,000+
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
Level
Salary
Starting PCSO
£22,000-£25,000
Experienced PCSO
£25,000-£30,000
Senior PCSO
£28,000-£32,000
PCSOs are not warranted officers and have different powers
Police Staff (Civilian Roles)
Role
Salary Range
Call handler / dispatcher
£22,000-£28,000
Crime scene investigator (CSI)
£28,000-£38,000
Intelligence analyst
£30,000-£42,000
Digital forensic examiner
£32,000-£45,000
Police staff investigator
£28,000-£38,000
Senior analyst
£38,000-£50,000
Scotland (Police Scotland)
Police Scotland has a separate but similar pay structure.
Rank
Minimum
Maximum
Constable
£28,551
£46,044
Sergeant
£47,784
£52,977
Inspector
£58,332
£63,912
Chief Inspector
£63,912
£68,835
Superintendent
£77,835
£86,970
Chief Superintendent
£91,749
£95,604
Broadly aligned with England and Wales rates
Police Pension Scheme (2015 CARE Scheme)
The police pension is one of the most generous in the public sector.
Key Features
Feature
Details
Type
Career average (CARE)
Accrual rate
1/55.3 of pensionable pay per year
Normal pension age
60
Revaluation
CPI + 1.25% each year
Lump sum
Option to exchange pension for lump sum
Ill-health pension
Tier 1, 2, or 3 depending on severity
Death in service
Lump sum + survivor pensions
Officer Contribution Rates
Salary Range
Contribution Rate
Up to £27,000
12.44%
£27,001-£60,000
13.44%
Over £60,000
13.78%
Example Pension
Scenario
Annual Pension at 60
30 years, average salary £40,000
~£21,700
35 years, average salary £45,000
~£28,500
25 years, average salary £55,000 (sergeant/inspector)
~£24,900
Career Progression Timeline
Stage
Service
Rank
Salary
Recruit
Year 0-2
Constable (probationary)
£28,551-£33,708
Established officer
Years 3-7
Constable
£36,408-£46,044
First promotion
Years 5-10
Sergeant
£47,784-£52,977
Middle management
Years 10-18
Inspector / Chief Inspector
£58,332-£68,835
Senior officer
Years 15-25
Superintendent+
£77,835-£95,604
Chief officer
Years 20+
ACC / DCC / CC
£115,350-£297,000+
Promotion timelines vary enormously — some make sergeant in 4 years, others never
Other Benefits
Benefit
Details
Annual leave
22 days rising to 30 after 20 years + bank holidays