UK Police Salary 2025/26: Pay Scales, Ranks and Eligibility

Understanding UK Police Salary in 2025/26

If you are considering a career in policing or simply want to understand how officer pay works, this guide covers the latest UK police salary scales for England and Wales. Police pay is structured by rank and length of service, with separate scales for those who joined before or after April 2013. The figures below take effect from 1 September 2025, following the government’s acceptance of the Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation of a 4.2% consolidated increase.

Constable Pay Scales

Constables are the most numerous rank, with over 113,000 full-time equivalent officers. The starting salary for a constable who joined on or after 1 April 2013 is £31,164 (pay point 1). Chief officers can also start new recruits at pay point 2 (£32,472) if local recruitment needs require it. The scale then rises through seven pay points to £50,256 at the top. For officers who joined before 1 April 2013, the scale starts at £32,820 (pay point 0) and also reaches £50,256 at pay point 7.

A typical constable will reach the top of the scale within six years, subject to meeting the annual Pay Progression Standard. Increments are worth at least 2% of salary and often 4–6%. For more context on how these rates compare to other roles, see our pay guides for sector-by-sector comparisons.

Sergeant Pay

Sergeants earn between £53,568 and £56,208 (pay points 2–4 on the post-2013 scale). There are approximately 22,400 sergeants in England and Wales. Progression to the top of the sergeant scale typically takes three to four years.

Inspector and Chief Inspector Pay

Inspectors (around 6,900 officers) have a pay range of £63,768 to £68,982 (pay points 0–3). Chief Inspectors (around 2,200 officers) earn £70,344 to £73,149 (pay points 1–3). Both ranks follow incremental progression similar to sergeants.

Superintendent and Chief Superintendent Pay

Superintendents (about 1,050 officers) earn £84,177 to £99,015 across four pay points. Chief Superintendents (about 370 officers) earn £103,797 to £115,785 across three pay points. These are the most senior operational ranks before chief officer level.

London Weighting and Other Allowances

Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive an additional £3,150 per year in London weighting. This is paid on top of basic salary. Part-time officers receive a proportional amount. In addition, federated ranks (constable to chief inspector) receive a 10% night shift allowance for hours worked between 8pm and 6am. Dog handlers and other specialist roles may qualify for extra allowances.

Eligibility and Pay Progression

Eligibility for specific pay points depends on your date of joining the police service. Those who joined on or after 1 April 2013 follow the newer, slightly lower starting scale. Officers who joined before that date remain on the older scale with a higher starting point. Both scales converge at the top for constables (£50,256).

Pay progression is not automatic. Since April 2023, officers must meet the requirements of the Pay Progression Standard (PPS) in the previous 12 months to move to the next pay point. This standard assesses competence and performance. For detailed data on police and other public sector pay, visit our pay data page.

How Police Pay Compares to National Minimum Wage

Police officer salaries are well above the National Living Wage (£12.71/hr for age 21+). Even a starting constable at £31,164 works out to roughly £15.50 per hour based on a 40-hour week, before allowances. However, police work involves shift patterns, unsocial hours, and significant responsibility. The UK police salary structure reflects this through incremental progression and special allowances.

Summary

Police pay in England and Wales is transparent and rank-based. Starting salaries for constables are £31,164, rising to £50,256 within six years. Sergeants earn £53,568–£56,208, inspectors £63,768–£68,982, and chief inspectors £70,344–£73,149. Superintendents earn up to £99,015 and chief superintendents up to £115,785. London officers receive an extra £3,150. For more on how these rates fit into the wider UK pay landscape, explore our topics section.

Sources: GOV.UK guidance (Annex F – Pay), Home Office evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body 2026/27, and Police Federation pay scales.