Police Pay

Civilian Investigator Pay in the UK

A published force example, because there's no single national scale for this role.

Last reviewed 21 October 2026

Quick Answer

There's no national pay scale for civilian police investigators: unlike constable pay, which is set nationally, police staff pay is set locally by each force. One published example, Derbyshire Constabulary's detective staff investigator role, lists £29,085, rising to £30,783 with PIP1 and beyond that only with PIP2 accreditation, but this varies by force, contract type and accreditation level.

Why there's no single UK-wide figure

Police officer pay in England and Wales follows a single national pay scale, set by the Home Secretary after advice from the Police Remuneration Review Body. Police staff, which is what civilian investigators are, don't. Each force sets its own local pay bands and pay can differ between forces for similar roles.

That means the honest answer to "how much do civilian investigators get paid" is: it depends which force, which contract and which specific post. What follows is one published example rather than a claimed national average.

A Published Example

Derbyshire Constabulary: Detective Staff Investigator
£29,085 → £30,783
Progression beyond £30,783 depends on PIP2

The force's careers page lists a starting salary of £29,085 (pay point 25), progression beyond that dependent on PIP1 accreditation and progression beyond pay point 27 (£30,783) dependent on PIP2 accreditation, which needs a pass in the National Investigators' Exam. Force pages can pre-date the latest staff pay award, so check the current advert.

We have no verified UK-wide average or range for these roles, so we don't quote one. Salary-aggregator averages mix very different roles and forces and are not a published pay scale.

What actually drives the pay difference

  • •PIP level: in the Derbyshire example, progression depends on PIP1 and PIP2 accreditation
  • •Contract type: fixed-term and permanent posts may not be banded the same; check the advert
  • •Allowances, whether a shift or unsocial-hours allowance applies varies by post
  • •The force itself: each force sets its own pay bands
  • •Specialism: specialist posts (for example financial or digital) may be advertised on different terms; check each advert

How this compares to police officer pay

It's tempting to line up a civilian investigator's salary directly against a constable's starting pay, but the comparison only goes so far. Police officer pay sits on a single national scale. From 1 September 2026 new constable recruits start at pay point 1, £32,255 before force allowances: the 2025/26 scale plus the 3.5% award the Home Secretary announced on 15 July 2026 (the Police Remuneration Review Body had recommended 3.9%). Civilian investigator pay is a locally set police staff band that can vary between forces for what is, on paper, a similar job.

The published example above sits below the constable starting point, but it may pre-date the latest pay award and won't hold everywhere and the two roles differ substantially in what they involve day to day. Pension arrangements differ too: civilian investigators are typically on the Local Government Pension Scheme rather than the Police Pension Scheme, which has its own distinct accrual and contribution structure. Weigh the whole package (pay, pension, contract security and the nature of the work) rather than comparing a single headline salary figure.

FAQ

Is there a national pay scale for civilian police investigators?
No. Unlike police officer pay, which follows a single national scale, police staff pay (including civilian investigator roles) is set locally by each force. Bands and salary ranges vary between forces for what can be a very similar job.
Does pay increase with PIP2 accreditation?
In at least one published example, yes. Derbyshire Constabulary's detective staff investigator page lists a starting salary of £29,085 (pay point 25), says progression beyond that depends on PIP1 accreditation and says progression beyond pay point 27 (£30,783) depends on PIP2 accreditation. Whether this applies varies by force and role, so check the specific advert.
Do civilian investigators get shift allowances?
Some posts may. Whether a shift or unsocial-hours allowance is paid and how much, is set by each force and each advert, so check the specific vacancy. We do not have a verified national figure.
How does civilian investigator pay compare to a police constable's starting salary?
The Derbyshire example (£29,085 to £30,783) is below the national constable starting point of £32,255 from 1 September 2026, before force allowances, though the figures on a force page can pre-date the latest pay award. The two aren't set on the same scale: one is a locally set police staff band, the other a nationally set officer pay point. Always compare current, specific figures.
What pension do civilian investigators get?
As police staff rather than warranted officers, civilian investigators are typically enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) rather than the Police Pension Scheme. LGPS is a career-average scheme with its own contribution bands: always confirm the specific scheme in your offer letter.

Related Guides

Civilian Investigator Explained • PIP1 vs PIP2 Explained • Police Officer Salary Calculator

PolicePay is independent and not affiliated with any police force. Last reviewed 21 October 2026. The Derbyshire figures are from that force's detective staff investigator careers page (careers.derbyshire.police.uk); constable pay is the 2025/26 scale plus the 3.5% award announced by the Home Secretary on 15 July 2026, rounded to the pound. Always check the specific force's own current advert, as pay bands change over time.