Understanding the Police Constable Salary in 2026/27

When comparing hourly jobs with salaried offers, the police constable salary is a useful benchmark because it combines a clear national pay structure with overtime and allowances. Whether you are considering a career in policing or simply want to see how a constable’s pay stacks up against other roles, this guide explains the hourly and annual figures, how they are calculated, and what extra payments you might receive.

National Pay Scales for Police Constables

Police pay in England and Wales is set centrally by the Home Office. The same pay points apply to every force, from the Metropolitan Police to smaller county forces. The only variation is London weighting, which is paid to officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police.

For 2026/27, the government accepted the Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation of a 3.5% consolidated increase, effective from 1 September 2026. The starting salary for a constable (pay point PP1) is now £32,256 per year, up from £31,164 in 2025/26. A constable typically progresses through seven pay points, reaching the top (PP7) after about six years, subject to meeting the Pay Progression Standard. The top salary is £52,014 per year.

Pay Point	Annual Salary (2026/27)	Hourly Rate (40-hour week)
PP1	£32,256	£15.47
PP2	£33,609	£16.11
PP3	£34,971	£16.77
PP4	£36,336	£17.42
PP5	£39,057	£18.73
PP6	£44,544	£21.36
PP7	£52,014	£24.94

Source: Home Office circular and published police pay scales.

How Hourly Rates Are Calculated

Police constables work a standard 40-hour week. To convert an annual salary to an hourly rate, the Home Office uses 52.14 weeks per year, giving 2,085.6 hours (40 × 52.14). For example, a constable at PP7 earning £52,014 per year has an hourly rate of £52,014 ÷ 2,085.6 = £24.94.

This is different from many other public sector roles, such as NHS staff, who work a 37.5-hour week (1,955.25 hours per year). When comparing a police constable salary with an hourly job, always check the assumed weekly hours. Our Hourly to Salary tool lets you adjust for different hours.

London Weighting and Allowances

Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive London weighting of £3,150 per year on top of their national salary. This is not included in the figures above. The Home Office has asked the Police Remuneration Review Body to consider whether London weighting should increase in 2026/27, but any rise must be funded from within existing allocations.

Other allowances include:

• Night duty allowance: 10% of basic pay for hours worked between 8pm and 6am.
• On-call allowance: £35 per day.
• Dog handler’s allowance: varies by force.

Overtime Pay for Police Constables

Federated ranks (constable to chief inspector) are eligible for overtime. The standard rates are:

• Time and a third (×1.33) for rest day working.
• Double time (×2) for bank holidays.

For example, a constable at PP7 earning £24.94 per hour would receive £33.25 per hour at time and a third, and £49.88 per hour at double time. Superintending ranks do not receive paid overtime.

How the Police Constable Salary Compares with Other Jobs

The UK median full-time gross annual pay is around £39,039, which equates to roughly £20.02 per hour at 37.5 hours per week. A police constable at the midpoint of the scale (PP4–PP5) earns between £36,336 and £39,057, which is close to the national median. However, the constable’s 40-hour week means the hourly rate is slightly lower than the median hourly rate when adjusted for hours.

For comparison, a newly qualified nurse on NHS Band 5 starts at £32,073 per year, with an hourly rate of £16.40 (based on 37.5 hours). A police constable at PP1 earns £15.47 per hour, but the constable’s role includes shift work and overtime opportunities that can boost total earnings.

If you are weighing up a salaried offer against an hourly job, remember that police pay includes incremental progression, a defined pension, and allowances that are not always reflected in the basic salary. Our salary articles cover more comparisons between hourly and salaried roles.

Key Takeaways

• The police constable salary for 2026/27 ranges from £32,256 to £52,014 per year.
• Hourly rates are based on a 40-hour week (2,085.6 hours per year).
• London weighting adds £3,150 per year for Met and City of London officers.
• Overtime at time and a third or double time can significantly increase take-home pay.
• Progression to the top of the scale takes about six years, with annual increments of at least 2%.

When using our Hourly to Salary converter, select the correct weekly hours to get an accurate comparison. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance for the most up-to-date figures.