Public Sector Comparison
Base pay, pension accrual and working patterns for police constables against the NHS, Fire Service, Teaching and the Civil Service.
Police Constable
The ChallengerMoves up the constable scale one pay point at a time. Base pay only; force allowances and overtime are extra.
Nurse (Band 5)
The Alternative"On base pay alone, the top of the constable scale is higher than the top of Band 5. Nurses also receive unsocial hours enhancements that are not shown here."
Note: Base pay only, and the scales are from different dates: police from 1 September 2026, NHS Band 5 from 1 April 2026, teachers (England excluding London) 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, firefighters from 1 July 2025. Later awards may have changed the non-police figures. Police figures are the national constable scale without force allowances. Allowances, enhancements, overtime and pension contributions differ between jobs and are not netted off here.
The Short Answer
On base pay alone, the top of the constable scale (£52,015 from 1 September 2026) is higher than the top of NHS Band 5, the main teacher pay range or the competent firefighter rate shown in the tool. Base pay is only part of the package: shift patterns, enhancements, pension terms and working conditions differ between jobs.
Sources: the site's police pay data; NHS Employers, Agenda for Change pay scales from 1 April 2026 (England); NASUWT and government pay scales for teachers in England (excluding London) for 2025/26; FBU/NJC firefighter rates from 1 July 2025. Later awards may have changed non-police figures. Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
Police vs NHS (Nursing)
Nursing offers specialisation and often the option of bank work. Pay progression within Band 5 runs from £32,073 to £39,043 (England, from 1 April 2026); to earn more, a nurse would normally move to a higher band such as Band 6. A new police constable (appointed on or after 1 April 2013, which includes every new recruit) moves up the 7-point scale from £32,255 to £52,015 (from 1 September 2026), before force allowances.
For a dedicated NHS pay calculator by band, see FrontlinePay, our sister site for NHS pay and pensions.
Police vs Fire Service
Firefighter pay runs from a development rate of £30,384 to a competent rate of £38,881 (from 1 July 2025), and further pay generally comes from promotion. Shift patterns differ from policing and vary by service, so compare the pattern for the specific job. On base pay alone, the top of the constable scale is higher.
The Pension Factor
Police
Police 2015 scheme
Fire
Firefighters' 2015 scheme
Teaching
Teachers' scheme
All of these are career average (CARE) defined-benefit schemes, which pay a pension based on your pay and service rather than on investment returns. For comparison, the NHS scheme accrues at 1/54. Accrual rate is only one term: contributions, retirement age and revaluation also differ.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is police pay better than the NHS?
On base pay alone, the top of the constable scale (£52,015 from 1 September 2026) is higher than the top of NHS Band 5 (£39,043 from 1 April 2026, England). Nurses receive unsocial hours enhancements that are not counted here, and can earn more by moving to a higher band, so compare the whole package for the job you are considering.
How does the police pension compare to teachers?
Both are career average (CARE) defined-benefit schemes. The police 2015 scheme accrues at 1/55.3 of pensionable pay per year, the teachers' scheme at 1/57. Contribution rates, retirement ages and other terms differ, so use the pension calculator to model your own case.
Do police get overtime pay?
Yes. Police overtime is paid at rates that depend on the notice given and the type of duty, for example time and a third, time and a half or double time. Overtime is not guaranteed. Under standard contracts teachers are not paid overtime, and NHS arrangements vary by employer.
What shift pattern do police work?
It varies by force and role. Frontline policing covers 24 hours a day, so patterns include early, late and night shifts. Shift patterns in other services also vary, so compare the pattern for the specific job you are looking at.
Which public sector job has the best job security?
There is no single answer. Police constables hold the office of constable rather than an ordinary employment contract, and the rules on leaving the service differ from those for civil servants or NHS staff. Check the terms for each role you are considering.
Can I negotiate my starting salary?
Generally not for these roles. Police, NHS, fire and teaching pay is set by national or collectively agreed scales, and new entrants normally start at the entry point for their role or qualification. Individual employers may have some local flexibility, so check the job advert.