Police Pay Scales
Explained (UK)
A complete breakdown of UK police pay scales, rank progression, increments and allowances. Independent, plain-English guide.
Trust Notice: Independent explanatory guide. Not official payroll output. Last updated: 13 October 2026.
Executive Summary
Police pay in England and Wales is structured through national pay scales linked to rank. Officers progress annually through incremental pay points until reaching the top of their scale.
Base salary is only one component. Allowances, overtime and pension contributions materially affect take-home pay. This guide explains how it all works.
Key Drivers
- Rank Base: Fixed salary bands per rank.
- Increments: Annual movement up the scale.
Adjustments
- Regional Allowances (London/SE).
- Pension & Tax Deductions.
How Police Pay Is Structured
Police pay is determined nationally through:
Police Regulations 2003 (as amended).
Annual remuneraton review body reports.
Home Office pay and conditions circulars.
Each rank has a defined pay scale. You do not negotiate salary individually.
Rank & Pay Bands
- Constable
- Sergeant
- Inspector
- Chief Inspector
- Superintendent
- Chief Superintendent
Each rank contains incremental pay points. Movement through pay points usually occurs annually, subject to performance and regulation compliance.
Pay Point Progression
Most officers move up one pay point per year. Progression may be paused for unsatisfactory performance, misconduct findings, or national increment freezes. At the top of the scale, salary only increases through national pay awards.
Two Constable Pay Scales (2026/27)
There are two constable pay scales in England and Wales. Constables appointed on or after 1 April 2013 — including everyone joining now — are on a 7-point scale that starts at pay point 1. Constables appointed before that date remain on the older 8-point scale (points 0 to 7). Both scales reach the same top point. New recruits start at pay point 1 (£32,255); a chief officer may assign new constables to pay point 2 (£33,609) to meet local recruitment needs. Top point: £52,015.
| Pay point | Appointed on/after 1 Apr 2013 (7-point) | Appointed before 1 Apr 2013 (8-point) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | n/a | £33,969 |
| 1 | £32,255 | £37,648 |
| 2 | £33,609 | £39,688 |
| 3 | £34,972 | £41,976 |
| 4 | £36,335 | £43,228 |
| 5 | £39,058 | £44,544 |
| 6 | £44,544 | £48,258 |
| 7 | £52,015 | £52,015 |
Calculated from the official 2025/26 scales (Police Remuneration Review Body 11th report, 2025) plus the confirmed 3.5% award from 1 September 2026, rounded to the nearest pound. Allowances are paid on top.
London & Regional Allowances
Metropolitan & City:
- London Weighting: £3,260
- London Allowance: up to £6,819
- Combined: £10,079 a year on top of base pay
South East Forces:
- South East Allowance: £3,105 (Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, Thames Valley)
- South East Allowance: £2,070 (Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Sussex)
These are paid in addition to base salary based on force location. Figures apply from 1 September 2026 (the 2025/26 values were £3,150, £6,588, £3,000 and £2,000).
Overtime & Enhanced Rates
Overtime is paid at enhanced multipliers. Overtime is calculated from your hourly rate derived from annual salary.
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Pension Contributions
Police officers contribute a percentage of pensionable pay. This reduces take-home pay but increases long-term pension entitlement.
Police Pension HubReal Terms Pay
Headline salary is not the same as purchasing power. Inflation materially affects real income over time.
Real Terms AnalysisCommon Misunderstandings
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for a police constable?
A new police constable in England and Wales starts at pay point 1 of the 7-point scale, £32,255 from 1 September 2026 (our calculation from the official 2025/26 scale plus the confirmed 3.5% award). A chief officer may assign new constables to pay point 2 (£33,609) to meet local recruitment needs, so some forces start recruits there. The older 8-point scale, which starts at £33,969, applies only to officers appointed before 1 April 2013.
How long does it take to reach the top pay point?
A new recruit on the 7-point constable scale starts at pay point 1 and moves up one pay point a year, reaching pay point 7 (£52,015) after six annual increments, assuming satisfactory progression. Officers on the older 8-point scale (appointed before 1 April 2013) start at point 0 and take seven increments to reach the same top point.
Do pay scales differ by force?
Base pay scales are set nationally and are consistent across all 43 territorial forces in England and Wales. However, differences occur through regional allowances like London Weighting and South East Allowance.
How does London Weighting work?
London Weighting is a flat-rate allowance paid to officers in the Metropolitan and City of London police forces to offset the higher cost of living in the capital. It is £3,260 from 1 September 2026 and is usually pensionable. Met and City officers also receive London Allowance (up to £6,819), so the combined London uplift on top of base pay is £10,079 a year.
Are allowances pensionable?
London Weighting is pensionable because the regulations treat it as pay. Allowances paid under Annex U, such as the London Allowance, the South East Allowance and the on-call allowance, are not pensionable.
Why This Matters
Understanding pay structure allows officers to plan financial decisions, evaluate promotion impact, understand overtime net effect, and assess long-term career value. Police pay is structured, not arbitrary. Clarity reduces frustration.