Police pay calculator 2026/27
Take-home pay for police officers in England and Wales from 1 September 2026. Pick your rank, pay point and force, then add overtime, acting up and allowances.
Your police job
National pay scales only. Pay from 1 September 2026.
Add to your pay
Deductions and tax
Basic pay, London Weighting and acting-up pay count for your pension. Overtime, London Allowance and South East Allowance do not.
Your pay points as Constable
Take-home a month at each point, with everything you entered above.
| Point | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | £32,255 | £1,951.64 |
| Pay point 2 | £33,609 | £2,021.25 |
| Pay point 3 | £34,972 | £2,091.33 |
| Pay point 4 | £36,335 | £2,161.40 |
| Pay point 5 | £39,058 | £2,275.36 |
| Pay point 6 | £44,544 | £2,553.76 |
| Pay point 7 | £52,015 | £2,941.61 |
Buying a home? See what you could borrow with the mortgage affordability calculator.
Every rank at a glance (outside London)
| Pay point | Salary | Pension | Monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable | |||
| Pay point 1 | £32,255 | 12.88% | £1,951.64 |
| Pay point 2 | £33,609 | 12.88% | £2,021.25 |
| Pay point 3 | £34,972 | 12.88% | £2,091.33 |
| Pay point 4 | £36,335 | 12.88% | £2,161.40 |
| Pay point 5 | £39,058 | 13.88% | £2,275.36 |
| Pay point 6 | £44,544 | 13.88% | £2,553.76 |
| Pay point 7 | £52,015 | 13.88% | £2,941.61 |
| Sergeant | |||
| Pay point 2 | £55,443 | 13.88% | £3,132.71 |
| Pay point 3 | £56,573 | 13.88% | £3,195.71 |
| Pay point 4 | £58,175 | 13.88% | £3,285.01 |
| Inspector | |||
| Pay point 0 | £66,000 | 13.88% | £3,611.74 |
| Pay point 1 | £67,798 | 13.88% | £3,686.17 |
| Pay point 2 | £69,589 | 13.88% | £3,760.30 |
| Pay point 3 | £71,396 | 13.88% | £3,835.10 |
| Chief Inspector | |||
| Pay point 1 | £72,806 | 13.88% | £3,893.47 |
| Pay point 2 | £74,225 | 13.88% | £3,952.20 |
| Pay point 3 | £75,709 | 13.88% | £4,013.63 |
Outside London, full time, tax code 1257L, Police Pension Scheme 2015 member, no student loan. Yearly rates from 1 September 2026.
How police take-home pay is worked out
A new constable starts on £32,255. They pay 12.88% into the police pension, which is £4,154.44 a year taken before tax. Income Tax is £3,106.11 and National Insurance is £1,574.80, leaving £23,419.64 a year, or £1,951.64 a month.
Constables move up one pay point a year, subject to meeting the pay progression standard. The big step is from pay point 5 to 6 and then 7, which is why a constable on £52,015 at the top takes home £990 a month more than a new starter.
The police pension costs more than other public sector schemes. A constable pays about 13% of pay, against 8% to 10% for a nurse or teacher on a similar salary. In return it is one of the few schemes with a pension age of 60.
Police pension contribution rates 2026/27
| Actual yearly pensionable pay | You pay |
|---|---|
| £37,035 or less | 12.88% |
| More than £37,035, less than £79,588 | 13.88% |
| £79,588 or more | 14.22% |
These rates came in on 1 April 2026, replacing the old 12.44%, 13.44% and 13.78% tiers. They are now set on your actual pensionable pay, so part-time officers pay the rate for what they really earn. The whole of your pay is charged at one rate: an officer on £37,035 pays 12.88%, but £1 more moves the whole salary to 13.88%, which costs about £296 a year in take-home pay.
What is not included
- London Weighting. About £3,260 a year from September 2026 for the Met and City of London Police, plus a London Allowance. London inspectors and chief inspectors also have their own higher scales.
- South East Allowance. Paid by some forces near London.
- Overtime, rest day working and on-call. Paid on top and can add a lot.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland. Police Scotland and the PSNI have separate pay scales.
To check your own payslip, use the take-home pay calculator, add a pension, choose “Workplace, whole salary” and enter your rate.
Common questions
How much is the police pay rise for 2026?
Officers in England and Wales get 3.5% on every rank and pay point from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary announced it on 15 July 2026, below the 3.9% the review body recommended.
What does a new police constable earn?
A constable starts on £32,255 from September 2026, which is about £1,952 a month after tax, National Insurance and the police pension.
How much do police officers pay into their pension?
12.88% of pay up to £37,035, 13.88% up to £79,588 and 14.22% above, from 1 April 2026. It is taken before Income Tax.
When will the new rates be paid?
Forces pay the new rates once the Home Office issues its determination, with arrears backdated to 1 September 2026. Pay points shown here are the rates published by the Police Federation.
Is police overtime pensionable?
No. Overtime, rest day and public holiday pay are taxed but do not count for the pension.
Do police officers pay 40% tax?
Not on basic pay at constable or sergeant rank, because pension contributions come off before tax. Overtime, London payments or acting up can take you over £50,270 of taxable pay.
What is the police hourly rate?
Annual pay divided by 52.14 weeks of 40 hours. For a new constable that is £15.46 an hour, and overtime at time and a third is £20.62.