MoJ salary 2026/27
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for courts, prisons, probation and legal aid policy, though agencies such as HMCTS and HMPPS publish their own figures. These are the core department's medians.
Ministry of Justice salaries: pay by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £24,520* | £1,689 | 25 of 26 |
| AO | £25,450* | £1,742 | 70 of 73 |
| EO | £33,550 | £2,203 | 37 of 92 |
| HEO | £38,760* | £2,478 | 54 of 93 |
| SEO | £49,190* | £3,066 | 42 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £64,230* | £3,748 | 40 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £76,950* | £4,316 | 49 of 84 |
| SCS | £94,340 | £5,093 | 32 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 MoJ 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.
Middling pay with a low AA and AO
The MoJ ranks 25th of 26 at AA and 70th of 73 at AO, near the bottom. From EO upward it recovers to 37th of 92, 54th of 93 at HEO and 40th of 91 at Grade 7.
Its EO median of £33,550 is 3% above the typical department's EO median, which is a big step up from AO at £25,450. From AO to EO the take-home difference is about £461 a month.
Against the typical department
| Grade | MoJ median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | £24,520 | £27,440 | -£2,920 |
| AO | £25,450 | £28,100 | -£2,650 |
| EO | £33,550 | £32,460 | +£1,090 |
| HEO | £38,760 | £39,440 | -£680 |
| SEO | £49,190 | £48,220 | +£970 |
| Grade 7 | £64,230 | £63,110 | +£1,120 |
| Grade 6 | £76,950 | £78,270 | -£1,320 |
| SCS | £94,340 | £94,930 | -£590 |
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 | £930 | £53 |
| AO to EO | £8,100 | £461 |
| EO to HEO | £5,210 | £275 |
| HEO to SEO | £10,430 | £588 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £15,040 | £682 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £12,720 | £568 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £17,390 | £777 |
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. MoJ 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 MoJ?
The median AA salary at Ministry of Justice was about £24,520 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,689 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an AO earn at MoJ?
The median AO salary at Ministry of Justice was about £25,450 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £1,742 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at MoJ?
The median EO salary at Ministry of Justice was £33,550 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,203 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does MoJ pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At EO, MoJ ranks 37 of 92 departments that publish a figure. At AA it ranks 25 of 26.
What pension do MoJ 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.