Police vs Firefighter
vs Paramedic Salary
(UK 2026)
Base pay, overtime rules, pension differences, real-terms erosion and long-term earning power compared.
Who Earns More in 2026?
- Police Constable – Highest top scale (£49k+) and strongest overtime potential
- Firefighter – Lower base (£36k+) but stable roster and second-income flexibility
- Paramedic – Comparable base (£45k+) with unsocial hours enhancements
Quick Salary Comparison (2026)
| Role | Top Base | Overtime | Pension Strength | Strike Rights | Financial Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police | £49k+ | High | 1/55.3 | No | Highest |
| Firefighter | £36k+ | Limited | 1/59.7 | Yes | Moderate |
| Paramedic | £46k+ | Enhancements | 1/54 | Yes | High |
Base Salary Comparison (2026)
Comparisons are based on the latest available pay scales for 2025/26.
| Role | Entry Salary | Top Scale | Time to Top | Overtime? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police Constable | £29k - £30k+ | £49k+ | 7 Years | Yes |
| Firefighter (Wholetime) | £27k+ (Trainee) | £36k+ (Competent) | 18-24 Months | Limited |
| Paramedic (NHS Band 5/6) | £29k+ (Band 5) | £46k+ (Band 6 top) | 5-6 Years | Enhancements |
Pay is set by Police Regulations 2003. It is a long ladder (7 points). You start lower but reach a Significantly higher maximum base salary than a firefighter. 2026 Police Pay Scales.
Agenda for Change (AfC). Paramedics usually start Band 5 and move to Band 6 automatically after 2 years. Pay is heavily supplemented by "Unsocial Hours" payments.
Overtime & Earnings Structure
This is where the widening gap appears. Base pay tells only half the story.
High OT Potential
Paid at 1.33x (casual), 1.5x (rest day < 15 days), or 2.0x (public holiday/short notice rest day).
- + Casual Overtime (Shift overrun)
- + Rest Day Working
- + Public Holiday (Double bubble)
Second Job ?
Overtime is less frequent. However, the shift pattern (often 2 days, 2 nights, 4 off) historically allowed for second incomes/trades.
- - Limited Service OT
- + Trade/Skill potential
- + Stable Roster
Enhancements
Agenda for Change pays enhancements for nights/weekends as standard, unlike police who get a fixed monthly 'unsocial hours' sum (approx £50-£100).
Example: A top-scale constable working 10 overtime shifts a year and 4 bank holidays will likely out-earn a firefighter by £10k+.
Police Overtime After Tax Calculator →Pension Comparison (Long Term)
All three services have moved to CARE (Career Average Revalued Earnings) schemes.
| Scheme | Accrual Rate | Retirement Age | Employee Contrib. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police (2015) | 1/55.3 (Best) | 60 | High (12-14%) |
| Fire (2015) | 1/59.7 | 60 | High |
| NHS (2015) | 1/54 (Good) | State Pension Age | Tiered |
Verdict: The Police scheme accumulates fastest (1/55.3) allowing for a substantial pot at age 60. The NHS scheme has a slightly better accrual (1/54) but is linked to State Pension Age, meaning paramedics may work longer to get the full unreduced amount.
Real Terms Erosion (Since 2010)
The "Lost Decade" of Pay
All public sector workers have suffered pay erosion. Police salaries are estimated to have fallen by nearly 20% in real terms since 2010. Firefighters and nurses/paramedics have seen similar stagnation, often leading to industrial action ballots which police cannot partake in.
Housing & Affordability
Using a standard 4.5x salary mortgage multiplier:
| Role (Top Scale) | Approx Gross | Borrowing Power (4.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| Constable | ~£49,000 | £220,500 |
| Firefighter | ~£36,000 | £162,000 |
| Paramedic | ~£46,000 | £207,000 |
Reality Check: A police constable has significantly higher solo buying power than a firefighter. In the South East, however, even £220k borrowing falls short of average property prices. Police officers often rely on overtime to boost affordability calculations where lenders allow (e.g., taking 50-100% of sustainable OT).
Workload & Risk Profile
Police officers face the highest frequency of physical confrontation and assault. While fire and ambulance staff face unacceptable abuse, policing involves actively seeking out and arresting violent offenders.
Paramedics and police share high exposure to traumatic incidents (RTCs, sudden death). Firefighters also attend traumatic scenes but generally have lower frequency case-load than the other two services in a typical shift.
Police officers carry significant personal legal liability (misconduct, criminal charges for use of force) which is less prevalent in fire or ambulance roles.
Firefighters and Paramedics have the right to strike. Police officers do not. This impacts bargaining power significantly.
Legal Duty, Liability & Structural Obligation
A fundamental driver of the "value gap" between policing and other services is the legal status of the individual. While base pay can be compared in a table, the structural obligations of the Office of Constable create a unique economic profile.
24/7 Office-Holder Status
Unlike paramedics or firefighters who are contracted employees, police officers are office-holders. This carries a permanent "duty to act" even when off duty, should they witness a crime or risk to life, extending professional liability into private life.
Misconduct & Criminal Exposure
Officers face a double-jeopardy risk: professional misconduct proceedings and criminal investigation for standard operational decisions. This personal liability for use of force or "misconduct in public office" is a structural weight not carried by NHS or Fire staff.
Industrial Restrictions
Police officers are legally prohibited from striking. In a direct comparison with Fire and NHS services—both of which have strong industrial bargaining power—the lack of an "exit strategy" (strike) impacts long-term pay trajectory and structural reform potential.
Secondary Interest Bans
While a firefighter may maintain a trade (electrician, plumber) to supplement income, police officers face "Business Interest" restrictions. Participation in the gig economy or secondary employment is strictly vetted and often denied to prevent conflicts of interest.
Quantifying the Unpriced Risk
Base salary tables ignore the "liquidity cost" of policing. A constable cannot simply "work more hours" in a second job if they are struggling; they must work overtime within the force—often subject to short-notice cancellation of rest days. This connects directly to the Financial Pressure Index, where the inability to diversify income increases household risk.
Policing carries legal authority, legal exposure, and 24/7 office-holder status. This creates economic and lifestyle constraints that are not reflected in base salary comparisons.
This section was expanded following practitioner feedback highlighting the importance of legal liability in cross-service comparison.
30-Year Lifetime Earnings Projection
To understand the comparative long-term ceiling, we model a 30-year career with neutral assumptions: joining at age 21, reaching the top of the standard pay scale, undertaking moderate overtime (for police), and assuming no promotion or specialist rank advancement.
- Police Constable: High cumulative earnings due to reaching the £49k+ top scale by age 28, combined with a steady flow of 1.5x overtime and bank holiday double-time over three decades. Cumulative earnings are the highest of the three.
- Paramedic: Strong lifetime earnings, buoyed by consistent Agenda for Change unsocial hours enhancements over the 30 years, though the base ceiling without management is lower than a constable's.
- Firefighter: The lowest lifetime baseline public-sector earnings of the three due to a £36k+ cap. However, the unique shift roster often permits decades of secondary self-employment (e.g., trades), which is not factored into public salaries.
Does This Differ by Region?
While base structures are nationally negotiated, regional nuances heavily influence take-home pay:
- Police Scotland / PSNI: Devolved forces have entirely different pay scales and specific transitional allowances. PSNI officers receive a distinct Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance (NITA), while Police Scotland has a different step matrix.
- London Weighting & Allowances: Met Police, City of London, and London Fire Brigade personnel receive significant London Weighting and London Allowances (approx £6,000 - £8,000+).
- NHS Banding Variations: Paramedics in London receive high-cost area supplements (HCAS) of up to 20% of basic salary.
- South East Allowance: Many home counties police forces provide an additional £2,000 - £3,000 allowance to offset living costs locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more in 2026 police or firefighter?
A top-scale Police Constable earns more than a competent Firefighter in base salary and typically has higher overtime potential.
Is paramedic pay better than police?
Paramedics at Band 6 can earn close to police constables, particularly when unsocial hours enhancements are included.
The 2026 Verdict
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