Police pay scales 2026/27 and officer salary by rank
Pay from 1 September 2026 in England & Wales, with take-home after pension, tax and NI.
How much do police officers earn in the UK (2026/27)?
First to top pay point, England & Wales. Every pay point is on the rank's page.
| Rank | Gross / yr | Net / mo |
|---|---|---|
| Constable (PC / DC) salary | £32,255to £52,015 | £1,952to £2,942 |
| Sergeant (PS / DS) salary | £55,443to £58,175 | £3,133to £3,285 |
| Inspector (Insp / DI) salary | £66,000to £71,396 | £3,612to £3,835 |
| Chief Inspector salary | £72,806to £75,709 | £3,893to £4,014 |
| Superintendent salary | £87,123to £102,480 | £4,471to £5,104 |
| Chief Superintendent salary | £107,430to £119,838 | £5,308to £5,773 |
Net after PPS 2015 pension, income tax and NI (tax code 1257L, no student loan, outside London). Detective salary (DC, DS, DI, DCI) · chief constable salary · UK police ranks in order
Source: PRRB report 2026 · Checked October 2026 · How we calculate
Going for sergeant?
Promotion from top constable adds £191 a month net. Prepare the March 2027 sergeants' exam on Join The Cops, our sister brand: free exercises to start, then £19.99/month.
What the gross figures don't show
Police officer pay in England and Wales is set nationally after the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) report and applies to all 43 forces. The scales above include the 3.5% award confirmed on 15 July 2026: see what the 3.5% added to your take-home.
A constable at PP1 earns £32,255 gross, but after a 12.88% pension contribution (deducted before income tax), income tax and National Insurance, take-home is roughly £1,952/month: around 73p in the pound. At PP7 the gross is £52,015 and take-home is around £2,942/month.
New from 1 September 2026: the 3.5% award takes PP7 to £52,015, above £50,270 on basic pay for the first time. That is the National Insurance upper earnings limit, so NI on any extra pay drops from 8% to 2%. It does not make a top-of-scale constable a higher-rate taxpayer: the 13.88% pension contribution comes off before income tax, leaving taxable pay of £44,795, so roughly the first £5,475 of overtime is still taxed at 20%.
How pension tiers affect every rank
Under PPS 2015, pension contributions are charged on your entire pensionable pay at a single rate — whichever tier your pay falls into. The three tiers (effective 1 April 2026) are: 12.88% up to £37,035; 13.88% up to £79,587; and 14.22% above that. The rate isn't marginal — crossing a boundary moves your whole salary into the new tier.
This matters at two specific points: a constable crossing from PP4 (£36,335) to PP5 (£39,058) enters the 13.88% tier, adding roughly £391/year in pension deductions on top of the gross pay increase. And superintendents at all pay points (£87,123 and above) are in the 14.22% tier from day one of the rank.
London Weighting and regional allowances
Met and City of London officers receive £10,079/year from 1 September 2026: the £3,260 London Weighting is pensionable, the £6,819 London Allowance is not (most mortgage lenders still count the full £10,079).
South East Allowance & all 43 forces →
Up to £3,105/year (non-pensionable), set by each force: Bedfordshire £1,500; Essex £2,750; Hampshire £2,070; Hertfordshire £3,000; Kent £2,750; Surrey £3,105; Sussex £2,070; Thames Valley £3,105. Kent cut its allowance from £3,000 to £2,750 on 1 September 2026.
Detective Allowance
£1,800/year — paid to qualified detectives in some forces. Not universal, and non-pensionable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the starting salary for a police constable in 2026/27?
From 1 September 2026, a police constable in England and Wales starts at £32,255 gross on Pay Point 1 (around £1,952/month net after PPS 2015 pension, income tax and National Insurance) and progresses to £52,015 at Pay Point 7 (around £2,942/month net).
How much does a police sergeant earn in 2026/27?
A police sergeant in England and Wales earns between £55,443 (PP2) and £58,175 (PP4) gross from 1 September 2026, equivalent to roughly £3,133 to £3,285 per month after pension, income tax and NI.
When did the 2026/27 police pay award take effect?
The confirmed 3.5% police pay award for England and Wales took effect on 1 September 2026 across all federated and superintending ranks, following the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) recommendation.
Pay scales effective 1 September 2026, including the 3.5% award. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate arrangements. Figures are for guidance; confirm exact pay with your force HR.