Early-Career Earnings
The base salary is just the start. See what you'll actually bank.
*OT is paid at time and a third or time and a half depending on notice.
Year 1 Earnings
Year 3 Earnings
Did you know?
This doesn't include your Pension. The police pension (approx 20% employer contribution value) adds effectively another £6,000 - £8,000 to your total package value in Year 1 alone.
Disclaimer: Take-home figures are rough estimates assuming standard tax codes and pension contributions. Actual pay will vary.
The Short Answer
Most new officers start on approximately £29,907. However, with overtime and unsocial hours payments, it is common to earn £35,000+ in your first year. Your pay automatically rises every year for 7 years until you reach the top rate (currently £48k+).
Understanding Your Package
📈 The Pay Spine
Unlike most jobs where you have to negotiate a raise, police pay is fixed. You usually start at Pay Point 1. On your anniversary, you move to Pay Point 2. This continues until Pay Point 7 (Top Whack), where pay freezes until you promote to Sergeant.
🦉 The "Unseen" Pay
Your pension contribution is high (approx 12-14%), which makes your take-home pay look lower. However, for every £1 you put in, the government puts in roughly £2-£3. It is one of the few remaining schemes that offers a guaranteed income for life based on average salary.
Unsocial Hours
You get 10% hourly bonus for any work between 8pm and 6am. For response officers, this adds up quickly.
Rest Day Working
If your rest day is cancelled with less than 15 days' notice, you get paid time and a half.
Bank Holidays
Working a public holiday? You get paid double time regarding of how much notice you were given.
If you want to see this in context
The readiness report places early-career earnings alongside recruitment timing and preparation considerations in one realistic plan.
PDF included • One-off £24.99