Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow 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.
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.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Police Constable Pay Scale (England & Wales, 2026/27)
Pay Points
A 3.5% pay award for all ranks took effect on 1 September 2026. The 2026/27 column below is the Police Federation’s published scale for that date (Norfolk branch rank pay scales page); the 2025 column is the scale from Home Office Circular 011/2026, Annex F. Allowances are extra.
| Pay Point | Salary (1 Sept 2025, published) | Salary (1 Sept 2026) |
|---|
| 1 (starting) | £31,164 | £32,254 |
| 2 | £32,472 | £33,608 |
| 3 | £33,789 | £34,971 |
| 4 | £35,106 | £36,334 |
| 5 | £37,737 | £39,057 |
| 6 | £43,038 | £44,544 |
| 7 (top of scale) | £50,256 | £52,014 |
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 | £32,254 | £52,014 |
| Sergeant | £55,442 | £58,175 |
| Inspector | £65,999 | £71,396 |
| Chief Inspector | £72,806 | £75,709 |
| Superintendent | £87,123 | £102,481 |
| Chief Superintendent | £107,430 | £119,837 |
| Assistant Chief Constable | £129,570 | £145,987 |
| Deputy Chief Constable | £161,088 | £205,112 |
| Chief Constable | £195,259 | £248,623 |
Constable to chief inspector figures are the Police Federation’s published pay scales from 1 September 2026 (Norfolk branch rank pay scales page), outside London and excluding allowances. Superintendent to chief constable figures are calculated, not published: the 3.5% pay award applied to the 1 September 2025 pay points (Police Remuneration Review Body 2026 report, Appendix F). Chief officer figures apply the same 3.5% to the Senior Salaries Review Body’s 1 September 2025 salaries for forces outside London: assistant chief constables across pay points 1 to 3, deputy chief constables and chief constables across force pay groups 3 to 1. Calculated results are rounded to the nearest pound and exclude allowances.
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 Weighting | Rises by 3.5% from 1 September 2026 |
| London Allowance (maximum rate) | Rises by 3.5% from 1 September 2026 |
| South East Allowance (maximum rate) | Rises by 3.5% from 1 September 2026 |
Source: Police Professional, 16 July 2026, reporting the Home Secretary’s written ministerial statement of 15 July 2026. The 3.5% pay award applies to all ranks and pay points.
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 ~£36,000-£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+ |
| 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 pay is set separately from England and Wales through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland. The rates below apply from 1 April 2026.
| Rank | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| Constable | £34,001 | £54,597 |
| Sergeant | £56,455 | £61,036 |
| Inspector | £67,491 | £74,853 |
| Chief Inspector | £76,087 | £80,989 |
Source: Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, circular 2026/01 (federated ranks pay), Annexes A to D. The constable minimum is the rate on commencing service; the maximum is pay point 11. Rates are the inflation-guarantee adjusted figures.
Police Pension Scheme (2015 CARE Scheme)
The police pension is a career average scheme.
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 (2026/27 est.) |
|---|
| Recruit | Year 0-2 | Constable (probationary) | £32,254-£34,971 |
| Established officer | Years 3-7 | Constable | £36,334-£52,014 |
| First promotion | Years 5-10 | Sergeant | £55,442-£58,175 |
| Middle management | Years 10-18 | Inspector / Chief Inspector | £65,999-£75,709 |
| Senior officer | Years 15-25 | Superintendent / Chief Superintendent | £87,123-£119,837 |
| Chief officer | Years 20+ | ACC / DCC / CC | £129,570-£248,623 |
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 |
| Sick pay | Full pay for 6 months, half pay for 6 months |
| Free gym/fitness | Most forces provide on-site facilities |
| Blue Light Card | Discounts at 14,000+ retailers |
| Police Mutual | Financial products and discounts |
| Housing allowance | Phased out but some legacy payments |
| Travel | Free or subsidised travel in some forces |
| Retirement age | Can retire at 60 with full pension |
Summary
| Rank | Salary Range (2026/27 est.) |
|---|
| New constable | £32,254 |
| Top constable | £52,014 |
| Sergeant | £55,442-£58,175 |
| Inspector | £65,999-£71,396 |
| Superintendent | £87,123-£102,481 |
| Chief Constable | £195,259-£248,623 |
| Overtime potential | +£3,000-£10,000+/year |
Constable to inspector figures are the Police Federation’s published pay scales from 1 September 2026 (Norfolk branch rank pay scales page). Superintendent and chief constable figures are calculated by applying the 3.5% pay award to the pay points in effect from 1 September 2025 (Police Remuneration Review Body 2026 report, Appendix F; Senior Salaries Review Body 2026 supplementary report for chief officers). Calculated results are rounded to the nearest pound and exclude allowances.