GLD salary 2026/27
The Government Legal Department is the in-house law firm for government. This page shows the civil service grades it publishes, from AO to SCS; lawyers have their own grade structure.
Government Legal Department salaries by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £30,470 | £2,028 | 18 of 73 |
| EO | £33,740 | £2,214 | 35 of 92 |
| HEO | £36,570* | £2,355 | 75 of 93 |
| SEO | £44,910* | £2,825 | 79 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £63,320* | £3,708 | 43 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £80,180* | £4,460 | 34 of 84 |
| SCS | £90,960 | £4,942 | 45 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 GLD 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 and Grade 6 than at HEO or SEO
GLD is ranked 18th of 73 at AO and 34th of 84 at Grade 6, yet 75th of 93 at HEO and 79th of 93 at SEO. The pay is therefore uneven across the grades, with the management grades in the middle doing worst.
Its Grade 6 median of £80,180 is 2% above the typical department's Grade 6 median. Moving from SEO to Grade 7 adds about £883 a month in take-home.
Against the typical department
| Grade | GLD median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £30,470 | £28,100 | +£2,370 |
| EO | £33,740 | £32,460 | +£1,280 |
| HEO | £36,570 | £39,440 | -£2,870 |
| SEO | £44,910 | £48,220 | -£3,310 |
| Grade 7 | £63,320 | £63,110 | +£210 |
| Grade 6 | £80,180 | £78,270 | +£1,910 |
| SCS | £90,960 | £94,930 | -£3,970 |
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 | £3,270 | £186 |
| EO to HEO | £2,830 | £140 |
| HEO to SEO | £8,340 | £470 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £18,410 | £883 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £16,860 | £753 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £10,780 | £481 |
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. GLD 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 GLD?
The median AO salary at Government Legal Department was £30,470 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,028 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at GLD?
The median EO salary at Government Legal Department was £33,740 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,214 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at GLD?
The median HEO salary at Government Legal Department was about £36,570 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,355 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does GLD pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At AO, GLD ranks 18 of 73 departments that publish a figure. At SEO it ranks 79 of 93.
What pension do GLD 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.