Police Officer Salary UK 2026: Constable Pay Scales by Rank
By State6 Prep · Official Police Federation figures, effective 1 September 2025.
A new police constable in England and Wales starts on £31,164 a year and rises to £50,256 at the top of the scale. Basic pay follows one national scale across all 43 forces, with London weighting on top for the two London forces.
This page sets out the full constable pay scale, how progression works, London weighting, and what officers earn at each rank, using the official Police Federation figures effective 1 September 2025.
The Constable Pay Scale
Constables move up one pay point a year, provided their performance is satisfactory, reaching the top after around six years. These are the annual basic salaries on the scale for officers appointed since April 2013.
| Pay point | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| 1 (starting) | £31,164 |
| 2 | £32,472 |
| 3 | £33,789 |
| 4 | £35,106 |
| 5 | £37,737 |
| 6 | £43,038 |
| 7 (top) | £50,256 |
Basic pay only, effective 1 September 2025. Excludes overtime, shift and other allowances, and London weighting.
Beyond Basic Pay
London weighting. Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive a pensionable London weighting of £2,945 a year on top of basic pay, and the inspecting ranks sit on higher London scales.
Overtime and allowances. Actual take-home pay is usually more than basic pay once overtime, shift working and other allowances are counted, so it varies from officer to officer and force to force.
Pension. Officers join the police pension scheme, a career-average scheme widely regarded as one of the stronger workplace pensions, funded by both officer and employer contributions.
Police Pay by Rank
Pay rises with rank, and promotion is the main way to increase your basic salary. These are the basic pay ranges outside London, effective 1 September 2025.
| Rank | Basic pay range |
|---|---|
| Constable | £31,164 to £50,256 |
| Sergeant | £53,568 to £56,208 |
| Inspector | £63,768 to £68,982 |
| Chief Inspector | £70,344 to £74,310 |
Sergeant and above are reached through a promotion process. If you are already serving and thinking about the next rank, our promotion board guide covers how the boards work.
The Next Pay Award
Police pay is reviewed every year by the Police Remuneration Review Body, with new rates normally taking effect from 1 September. The 2025/26 award was a 4.2% consolidated rise, which is reflected in the figures above. The 2026/27 award is expected to be confirmed around September 2026, and this page will be updated when it lands.
Thinking of joining?
The pay starts the day you do, whichever entry route you take, and every route begins with the same assessment. Our police online assessment guide walks through the whole process, and State6 lets you practise the interview out loud before you sit it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for a police officer in the UK?
A new constable in England and Wales starts on £31,164 a year, the entry point of the national pay scale effective 1 September 2025. Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police also receive London weighting on top.
How much does a police officer earn at the top of the constable scale?
A constable reaches the top of the scale at £50,256 a year. You move up one pay point each year with satisfactory performance, so it takes around six years to progress from the starting point to the top.
Do you get paid while training to be a police officer?
Yes. On the main entry routes you are a paid, salaried officer from day one and earn a full constable salary while you train and study, rather than paying to train first.
What is London weighting for police officers?
Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive a pensionable London weighting of about £2,945 a year on top of basic pay, and there is a separate London allowance at the two London forces as well. The inspecting ranks are on higher London pay scales too. Check the current figures with the Police Federation, as they are reviewed each year.
When is the next police pay rise?
Police pay is reviewed each year by the Police Remuneration Review Body, with new rates normally taking effect from 1 September. The 2026/27 award is expected to be confirmed around that time. The figures on this page are the current rates effective 1 September 2025.
Is police pay the same across all forces?
Basic pay follows the same national scale across the 43 forces of England and Wales. What varies is London weighting for the two London forces, plus overtime, shift and other allowances, so actual take-home pay differs from officer to officer.
Figures are the Police Federation of England and Wales published pay scales effective 1 September 2025, reflecting the 2025/26 pay award. Pay is set nationally and updated each year; always check the current figures with the Police Federation or your force before relying on them. State6 is an independent preparation platform and is not affiliated with any police force or staff association.