OPG salary 2026/27
The Office of the Public Guardian registers lasting powers of attorney and supervises deputies in England and Wales. It is an agency of the Ministry of Justice and publishes medians from AO to Grade 6.
Office of the Public Guardian salaries by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £25,580 | £1,750 | 67 of 73 |
| EO | £29,850 | £1,993 | 82 of 92 |
| HEO | £36,210* | £2,334 | 81 of 93 |
| SEO | £43,990* | £2,773 | 86 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £59,330* | £3,529 | 72 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £72,590* | £4,122 | 75 of 84 |
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 OPG 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, matching other Ministry of Justice bodies
The OPG ranks 67th of 73 at AO, 82nd of 92 at EO and 86th of 93 at SEO, all close to the bottom. Its EO median of £29,850 and HEO median of £36,210 are the same as those at the Legal Aid Agency and HMCTS.
There is no SCS figure. The step from SEO to Grade 7 is worth about £756 a month in take-home.
Against the typical department
| Grade | OPG median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £25,580 | £28,100 | -£2,520 |
| EO | £29,850 | £32,460 | -£2,610 |
| HEO | £36,210 | £39,440 | -£3,230 |
| SEO | £43,990 | £48,220 | -£4,230 |
| Grade 7 | £59,330 | £63,110 | -£3,780 |
| Grade 6 | £72,590 | £78,270 | -£5,680 |
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 | £4,270 | £243 |
| EO to HEO | £6,360 | £342 |
| HEO to SEO | £7,780 | £439 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £15,340 | £756 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £13,260 | £592 |
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. OPG 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 OPG?
The median AO salary at Office of the Public Guardian was £25,580 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,750 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at OPG?
The median EO salary at Office of the Public Guardian was £29,850 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,993 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at OPG?
The median HEO salary at Office of the Public Guardian 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 OPG pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At Grade 7, OPG ranks 72 of 91 departments that publish a figure. At SEO it ranks 86 of 93.
What pension do OPG 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.