Police vs Army Salary
Comparison
(UK 2026)
Base pay, military allowances, police overtime, pension age and lifetime earning power compared — regulation-based and neutral.
Independent explanatory guidance. Not affiliated with the Home Office or Ministry of Defence. Figures are indicative and vary by employer, rank, and deployment.
The Short Answer: Who Earns More?
In 2026, a top-scale Police Constable generally earns more in base salary than a standard Army Private or Lance Corporal.
- However, Army personnel benefit from heavily subsidised accommodation, tax-free operational allowances when deployed, and structured progression within rank bands that dramatically offset lower base earnings.
- Police officers possess significantly higher hourly overtime earning potential (up to 2.0x) and benefit from much earlier unreduced pension access (Age 60), while Army pensions often align more closely with State Pension Age under modern civil schemes.
Decision Lens: If you prioritise structured accommodation and lifestyle support, the Army may feel more financially stable early on. If you prioritise pure earning ceiling, hourly overtime control, and a steady geographic anchor, policing offers a higher long-term income ceiling — but with greater professional volatility.
Base Pay Structure (2026)
Comparing indicative start points and typical earning bands as of the latest 2026 context. Base pay frameworks differ fundamentally between the two environments.
| Role | Entry / Start | Mid / Competent | Senior / Top | Structure Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Constable (E&W) | ~£29,900 | ~£38,000 | £49,000+ | 7-point incremental time-served scale. |
| Army Private (Trained) | ~£25,000 | ~£28,000 | ~£32,000 | Varies by trade supplement. |
| Army Lance Corporal | ~£30,000 | ~£33,000 | ~£36,000 | Promotion rank. |
| Army Corporal | ~£37,000 | ~£39,000 | ~£43,000 | Promotion rank. |
Structured by a time-served increment ladder. Once you reach year 7, you cap out at the top scale (~£49k+). You do not need to seek promotion to reach this high ceiling.
Pay is determined largely by rank, trade group (technical trades pay more), and time served within that rank. Reaching mid-£40ks typically requires progressing to Corporal or Sergeant.
Key Takeaway
Policing possesses a higher financial ceiling without requiring a promotion beyond the standard rank of Constable. In the Army, continued significant pay progression depends heavily on rank advancement and trade.
Allowances & Additional Pay
This is where the direct comparison starts to diverge. Military compensation includes significant non-cash value benefits and unique deployment supplements.
- Overtime (Reg 26): Paid at 1.33x, 1.5x, or 2.0x for rest days and bank holidays. It allows officers to force their income upwards significantly.
- London Weighting: Officers in the Met or City of London receive ~£8k+ in combined allowances.
- On-Call: Small daily allowances for specific roles ready to deploy off-shift.
- X-Factor: A pensionable addition (around 14.5% generally built into the quoted salary) compensating for the disadvantages of military life.
- Operational Allowance: Significant tax-free lump sum/daily rate when deployed to dangerous operational zones.
- Food/Living: Highly subsidised mess and living arrangements.
Illustrative Worked Comparison
Police PC (Top Scale): Base £49,000 + Moderate
Overtime / Bank Holidays (£6,000) = ~£55,000+ gross. (Must pay full market rate for housing).
Army Corporal: Base £39,000 + Subsidised
Accommodation (Saving ~£8,000 vs market rent) + No deployment
= Equivalent lifestyle value closer to high £40k+.
*Numbers shown as illustrative ranges based on standard modeling. Not exact payslips.
Accommodation & Living Costs
This is a critical differentiator. The highest expense for most working adults in the UK is housing.
The Police Burden
Police officers must secure and entirely fund their own housing in the private market. Even with London Weighting or South East allowances, officers frequently struggle with mortgage affordability criteria based purely on their base salary, often relying on overtime projections.
The Army Shield
Military personnel have access to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) or Single Living Accommodation (SLA). These are provided at rates massively below the commercial market value. This effectively ring-fences a large portion of an Army salary as pure disposable income. However, true geographic mobility and deployment separations are required.
Takeaway
While an Army Private earns less on paper than a mid-level Constable, the Army Private’s monthly disposable income may feel equally resilient early in their career because their housing costs are heavily suppressed.
Pension Comparison (Long-Term Security)
Both roles provide excellent Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, which are exceptionally rare in the private sector.
| Scheme | Type | Retirement Age | Contribution Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police (2015) | CARE DB | NPA 60 | High (~12-14%) | Exceptional early access. |
| Armed Forces (AFPS 15) | CARE DB | State Pension Age | Zero / Lower direct % | Includes Early Departure Payments (EDP). |
The Pension Verdict
The Police pension provides arguably the most valuable early access in the public sector, allowing full unreduced drawdown at age 60, but requires a massive monthly salary deduction to fund it. The Armed Forces pension often involves lower direct daily employee contributions and features unique early departure mechanisms, but the main pension is currently designed with a longer horizon toward State Pension Age.
Overtime vs Deployment
Police: The Hourly Hustle
Officers can materially increase annual income via overtime. However, it is volatile and often forced at short notice. Critically, earning £1,000 in overtime is heavily eroded by National Insurance, 40% income tax brackets (often breached by OT), and 13%+ pension deductions.
Army: The Deployment Spike
Army personnel do not generally earn hourly overtime. Instead, deployment allowances offer income boosts. Crucially, certain overseas operational allowances are paid tax-free. However, these are situational, require months away from home, and are not constant year-to-year.
| Income Volatility | Police: High (Weekly fluctuations based on operations) | Army: Spikes (Lump sum or daily boosts during tours) |
Legal Status & Risk Profile
Officers hold the Office of Constable with a 24/7 duty to act. They face immense civilian misconduct exposure, constant public complaint scrutiny handled by the IOPC, and risk criminal prosecution for standard use-of-force decisions on UK streets.
Subject to military law and the Armed Forces Act. Operational risk to life is fundamentally higher in combat or conflict deployment scenarios, combined with the psychological weight of prolonged separation from families during tours.
Long-Term Earning Ceiling
The promotion ladder offers significant bounds: Sergeant (~£50k-£53k), Inspector (~£59k+). This presents incredibly high earning potential if achieving senior rank.
Non-commissioned rank progression is required to significantly increase salary. However, the Commissioned Officer route changes the ceiling entirely.
Balanced Conclusion
A commissioned Army Officer (Captain, Major and beyond) may out-earn mid-level police ranks depending on their exact timeline and path. However, a standard enlisted Army pathway often hits a base pay ceiling below the level of a top-scale Police Constable.
Quick Comparison Snapshot
Indicative only — non-financial modelling.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more, police or army in the UK?
In 2026, a top-scale Police Constable generally earns more in pure base salary than a standard Army Private or Lance Corporal. However, Army personnel benefit from heavily subsidised accommodation and operational allowances which can significantly alter disposable income.
What is the starting salary for a British soldier in 2026?
While exact figures vary by trade and time served, indicative starting salaries for a trained Private sit around £25,000 to £28,000, rising to the low £30,000s depending on progression and banding.
Do soldiers pay for accommodation?
Yes, but it is heavily subsidised. Service Family Accommodation (SFA) or Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is provided at rates significantly below commercial market value, which protects disposable income.
Is the army pension better than police?
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is high quality. However, the Police 2015 CARE scheme allows for earlier access without reductions at age 60, whereas modern military schemes often tie normal pension age more closely to the State Pension Age, though military schemes often feature lower/zero direct daily employee contributions.
Can police earn more with overtime?
Yes, police constables have significant earning potential through Regulation 26 overtime multipliers (1.33x, 1.5x, 2.0x), whereas military pay typically relies on the X-Factor and deployment allowances rather than hourly overtime.
Which career has better long-term earning potential?
For non-commissioned/enlisted roles without promotion, policing generally has a higher long-term earnings ceiling. A commissioned Army Officer may eventually out-earn standard police ranks depending on their specific career path.
Is army pay tax-free?
Base salary is fully taxable. However, certain operational allowances received during specific deployments overseas may be tax-free, creating sharp, temporary spikes in net income.
Does police pay increase faster than army pay?
A police constable's base pay increases via a predictable 7-point annual increment scale regardless of promotion. Army pay progression depends more heavily on advancing in rank (e.g., Private to Lance Corporal to Corporal) and succeeding in trade groups.