MoD salary 2026/27
The Ministry of Defence employs a large civilian workforce alongside the armed forces. This page covers MoD civilian staff, not service personnel, whose pay is set elsewhere.
Ministry of Defence civilian salaries by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £27,600* | £1,865 | 12 of 26 |
| AO | £28,690* | £1,927 | 31 of 73 |
| EO | £31,440 | £2,083 | 61 of 92 |
| HEO | £39,320* | £2,510 | 49 of 93 |
| SEO | £48,520* | £3,028 | 45 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £65,170* | £3,790 | 33 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £77,250* | £4,330 | 45 of 84 |
| SCS | £93,480 | £5,054 | 34 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 MoD 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.
Mid-table pay, with published ranges
MoD ranks 12th of 26 at AA, 31st of 73 at AO and 33rd of 91 at Grade 7, which is the middle or slightly above. Its EO median is £31,440, ranked 61st of 92.
Unlike most departments, the MoD publishes pay ranges, shown further down this page, and its pay year starts in August rather than April. SCS is 34th of 58, and the step from SEO to Grade 7 adds about £762 a month.
Against the typical department
| Grade | MoD median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £27,600 | £27,440 | +£160 |
| AO | £28,690 | £28,100 | +£590 |
| EO | £31,440 | £32,460 | -£1,020 |
| HEO | £39,320 | £39,440 | -£120 |
| SEO | £48,520 | £48,220 | +£300 |
| Grade 7 | £65,170 | £63,110 | +£2,060 |
| Grade 6 | £77,250 | £78,270 | -£1,020 |
| SCS | £93,480 | £94,930 | -£1,450 |
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 | £1,090 | £62 |
| AO to EO | £2,750 | £157 |
| EO to HEO | £7,880 | £426 |
| HEO to SEO | £9,200 | £519 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £16,650 | £762 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £12,080 | £539 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £16,230 | £725 |
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.
Published pay ranges
| Grade | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| AA | £27,650 | £27,650 |
| AO | £27,650 | £27,650 |
| EO | £30,740 | £33,730 |
| HEO | £37,720 | £41,460 |
| SEO | £46,040 | £50,510 |
| Grade 7 | £61,630 | £67,750 |
| Grade 6 | £72,840 | £81,360 |
MoD civilian pay ranges as published by MoD. Its pay year starts in August.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. MoD 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 MoD?
The median AA salary at Ministry of Defence was about £27,600 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,865 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an AO earn at MoD?
The median AO salary at Ministry of Defence was about £28,690 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,927 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at MoD?
The median EO salary at Ministry of Defence was £31,440 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,083 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does MoD pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At Grade 7, MoD ranks 33 of 91 departments that publish a figure. At EO it ranks 61 of 92.
What pension do MoD 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.