RPA salary 2026/27
What Rural Payments Agency pays at each grade, and what it leaves you after tax, National Insurance and the alpha pension. Pick your grade in the calculator or enter your own salary.
RPA pay by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £26,030 | £1,775 | 62 of 73 |
| EO | £29,990 | £2,001 | 78 of 92 |
| HEO | £35,400* | £2,309 | 88 of 93 |
| SEO | £43,500* | £2,745 | 91 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £56,990* | £3,425 | 84 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £68,460* | £3,937 | 83 of 84 |
| SCS | £86,890* | £4,760 | 57 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 RPA 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.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. RPA 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 RPA?
The median AO salary at Rural Payments Agency was £26,030 at 31 March 2026, which is about £1,775 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at RPA?
The median EO salary at Rural Payments Agency was £29,990 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,001 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at RPA?
The median HEO salary at Rural Payments Agency was about £35,400 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,309 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does RPA pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At EO, RPA ranks 78 of 92 departments that publish a figure. At Grade 6 it ranks 83 of 84.
What pension do RPA 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.