Police pay after tax
England and Wales · pay scales from 1 September 2025 · tax year 2026/27
Take-home pay for police officers from constable to chief inspector, after income tax, National Insurance and the police pension.
Pay scales effective from 1 September 2025. Source: Home Office Circular 011/2026: Annex F (amendment) – Pay, Police Regulations 2003. Checked 5 October 2026.
Updated pay scales for the 2026 police pay award have not yet been published, so these are the scales from 1 September 2025.
Pension: Police Pension Scheme 2015 member contribution rates from 1 April 2026 (Home Office: Report to Parliament on updates to the member contribution structure for the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (effective 1 April 2026)).
Pay by rank
| Rank and point | Salary | Take-home a month (with pension) | Take-home a month (no pension) | Pension a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable: Pay point 1 | £31,164 | £1,895.55 | £2,163.14 | £334.49 (12.88%) |
| Constable: Pay point 7 | £50,256 | £2,843.63 | £3,308.66 | £581.29 (13.88%) |
| Sergeant: Pay point 2 | £53,568 | £3,028.19 | £3,468.90 | £619.60 (13.88%) |
| Sergeant: Pay point 4 | £56,208 | £3,175.36 | £3,596.50 | £650.14 (13.88%) |
| Inspector: Pay point 0 | £63,768 | £3,519.35 | £3,961.90 | £737.58 (13.88%) |
| Inspector: Pay point 3 | £68,982 | £3,735.18 | £4,213.91 | £797.89 (13.88%) |
| Chief inspector: Pay point 1 | £70,344 | £3,791.56 | £4,279.74 | £813.65 (13.88%) |
| Chief inspector: Pay point 3 | £73,149 | £3,907.66 | £4,415.32 | £846.09 (13.88%) |
2026/27 tax rates, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, standard tax code, no student loan. Pension contributions are taken before tax (net pay arrangement). Select a take-home figure to open it in the calculator.
Ranks
How police pay works
Police officer pay in England and Wales is set nationally in Police Regulations. Each rank has pay points; officers move up one point a year, subject to meeting the pay progression standard. Inspectors and chief inspectors in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police have their own higher scales. London weighting and allowances are paid on top and aren’t included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new police constable take home?
A constable on pay point 1 (£31,164) takes home £1,895.55 a month after tax, National Insurance and a 12.88% police pension contribution, using the scales from 1 September 2025.
Is the 2026 pay award included?
Updated pay scales for the 2026 police pay award have not yet been published, so these are the scales from 1 September 2025.
How much do officers pay into the police pension?
Members of the 2015 scheme pay 12.88% (£37,035 or less), 13.88% (more than £37,035 but less than £79,588), 14.22% (£79,588 or more), based on actual pensionable earnings from 1 April 2026.
Figures for 2026/27, verified against HMRC on 5 October 2026.
Sources:HMRC rates and thresholds for employers, Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances, Income Tax in Scotland. Methodology →