Defra salary 2026/27
Defra covers environment, farming, food and rural policy, and has a number of agencies around it. This page shows Defra's own median pay at each grade, not the agencies'.
Defra salaries: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pay by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £29,770 | £1,988 | 22 of 73 |
| EO | £30,420 | £2,025 | 73 of 92 |
| HEO | £36,210* | £2,334 | 78 of 93 |
| SEO | £43,940* | £2,770 | 87 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £57,950* | £3,468 | 82 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £71,180* | £4,059 | 79 of 84 |
| SCS | £89,300 | £4,868 | 53 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 Defra 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.
Better paid at AO than at SEO
Defra is ranked 22nd of 73 at AO, which is good, but its position slips with each step up: 78th of 93 at HEO, 87th of 93 at SEO and 79th of 84 at Grade 6.
The effect is that pay here starts well and falls behind. Defra's SEO median of £43,940 is 9% below the typical department's SEO median. Going from HEO to SEO adds about £436 to monthly take-home.
Against the typical department
| Grade | Defra median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £29,770 | £28,100 | +£1,670 |
| EO | £30,420 | £32,460 | -£2,040 |
| HEO | £36,210 | £39,440 | -£3,230 |
| SEO | £43,940 | £48,220 | -£4,280 |
| Grade 7 | £57,950 | £63,110 | -£5,160 |
| Grade 6 | £71,180 | £78,270 | -£7,090 |
| SCS | £89,300 | £94,930 | -£5,630 |
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 | £650 | £37 |
| EO to HEO | £5,790 | £309 |
| HEO to SEO | £7,730 | £436 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £14,010 | £698 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £13,230 | £591 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £18,120 | £809 |
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. Defra 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 Defra?
The median AO salary at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was £29,770 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,988 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at Defra?
The median EO salary at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was £30,420 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,025 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at Defra?
The median HEO salary at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was about £36,210 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,334 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does Defra pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At AO, Defra ranks 22 of 73 departments that publish a figure. At Grade 6 it ranks 79 of 84.
What pension do Defra 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.