Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service salary 2026/27
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is Scotland's prosecution service, and it publishes medians from AO through to SCS. Many staff are lawyers, though the civil service grades cover the support roles.
COPFS salaries: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service pay
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £29,260 | £1,959 | 28 of 73 |
| EO | £36,610 | £2,357 | 11 of 92 |
| HEO | £44,120* | £2,780 | 11 of 93 |
| SEO | £52,150* | £3,242 | 25 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £67,100* | £3,876 | 25 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £88,930* | £4,851 | 9 of 84 |
| SCS | £97,450 | £5,232 | 25 of 58 |
Median full-time salary at 31 March 2026 from Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics. * Our estimate from the official 2026 figure for the combined level and the 2025 figure for the grade. Rank compares Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service with every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade. Take-home is full time, alpha member, tax code 1257L, no student loan.
Well above average at every grade
COPFS is placed 28th of 73 at AO, 11th of 92 at EO and 9th of 84 at Grade 6, so it stays in the upper part of the table from the bottom of the ladder to near the top. Its EO median of £36,610 is 13% above the typical department's EO median.
As with other Scottish bodies, the EO figure of £36,610 matches several neighbouring organisations, which points to a common Scottish pay scale. The Grade 6 to SCS step is worth about £380 a month.
Against the typical department
| Grade | Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £29,260 | £28,100 | +£1,160 |
| EO | £36,610 | £32,460 | +£4,150 |
| HEO | £44,120 | £39,440 | +£4,680 |
| SEO | £52,150 | £48,220 | +£3,930 |
| Grade 7 | £67,100 | £63,110 | +£3,990 |
| Grade 6 | £88,930 | £78,270 | +£10,660 |
| SCS | £97,450 | £94,930 | +£2,520 |
The typical department is the middle one when every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade is put in order, at 31 March 2026.
What each step up is worth
| Move | Extra gross a year | Extra take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| AO to EO | £7,350 | £398 |
| EO to HEO | £7,510 | £423 |
| HEO to SEO | £8,030 | £462 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £14,950 | £634 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £21,830 | £975 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £8,520 | £380 |
Extra take-home is smaller than the extra gross pay because of tax, National Insurance and the higher alpha contribution rate that applies as pay rises.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service may also pay more in London and for specialist roles, and most departments have paid a 2026/27 award since 31 March 2026.
Common questions
How much does an AO earn at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service?
The median AO salary at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was £29,260 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,959 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service?
The median EO salary at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was £36,610 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,357 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service?
The median HEO salary at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was about £44,120 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,780 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At Grade 6, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ranks 9 of 84 departments that publish a figure. At SCS it ranks 25 of 58.
What pension do Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff get?
Civil servants join the alpha pension scheme. You pay 4.6% to 8.05% of your pay depending on what you earn, and build 2.32% of your pensionable pay as pension each year.