Met Office salary 2026/27
The Met Office provides weather forecasting and climate science, and it is part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Its pay varies sharply between grades.
Met Office salaries: pay by grade at the Met Office
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £26,940* | £1,827 | 14 of 26 |
| AO | £24,540* | £1,690 | 72 of 73 |
| EO | £29,480 | £1,972 | 87 of 92 |
| HEO | £37,330* | £2,397 | 68 of 93 |
| SEO | £45,350* | £2,850 | 76 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £56,390* | £3,398 | 86 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £69,410* | £3,980 | 82 of 84 |
| SCS | £123,690 | £6,160 | 3 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 Met Office 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.
Low pay for most grades, a very high SCS
The Met Office is 72nd of 73 at AO, 87th of 92 at EO and 86th of 91 at Grade 7, which puts it near the bottom of the table. Its SCS median of £123,690 is 3rd of 58.
With very few SCS posts, that figure reflects a handful of salaries and shouldn't be read as a pattern. For most staff the better comparison is the step from SEO to Grade 7, worth about £549 a month in take-home.
Against the typical department
| Grade | Met Office median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £26,940 | £27,440 | -£500 |
| AO | £24,540 | £28,100 | -£3,560 |
| EO | £29,480 | £32,460 | -£2,980 |
| HEO | £37,330 | £39,440 | -£2,110 |
| SEO | £45,350 | £48,220 | -£2,870 |
| Grade 7 | £56,390 | £63,110 | -£6,720 |
| Grade 6 | £69,410 | £78,270 | -£8,860 |
| SCS | £123,690 | £94,930 | +£28,760 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AA to AO | −£2,400 | −£137 |
| AO to EO | £4,940 | £281 |
| EO to HEO | £7,850 | £426 |
| HEO to SEO | £8,020 | £452 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £11,040 | £549 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £13,020 | £581 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £54,280 | £2,181 |
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. Met Office 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 AA earn at Met Office?
The median AA salary at Met Office was about £26,940 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,827 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an AO earn at Met Office?
The median AO salary at Met Office was about £24,540 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,690 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at Met Office?
The median EO salary at Met Office was £29,480 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,972 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does Met Office pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At SCS, Met Office ranks 3 of 58 departments that publish a figure. At AO it ranks 72 of 73.
What pension do Met Office 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.