Police Officer Salary UK: Understanding Pay Scales, Hourly Rates and Regional Variations

If you are considering a career in policing or are already serving and want to understand your earnings, knowing the latest police officer salary UK figures is essential. Pay is set nationally by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and applies to officers in England and Wales. This guide breaks down the salary ranges for each rank, explains how to convert annual pay to an hourly rate, and highlights the extra allowances that can boost your take-home pay.

Pay Scales by Rank (from 1 September 2025)

The Home Office evidence to the PRRB confirms that constables start at £31,164 and progress through seven pay points to reach £50,256. Sergeants earn between £53,568 and £56,208, inspectors between £63,768 and £68,982, and chief inspectors between £70,344 and £73,149. Superintending ranks start at £84,177 for a superintendent and go up to £115,785 for a chief superintendent. These figures are the basic annual salaries before any allowances.

Hourly Rate Conversion for Police Officers

To find the hourly rate, divide the annual salary by 2,085.6 – that is 40 hours per week multiplied by 52.14 weeks (the standard full-time working year for police). For example, a constable on pay point 1 earns £31,164 ÷ 2,085.6 ≈ £14.95 per hour. At the top of the constable scale (pay point 7, £50,256), the hourly rate is about £24.11. Use our Hourly to Salary calculator to convert any police salary to an hourly figure.

London Weighting

Officers in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive an additional £3,150 per year on top of their basic pay. This London weighting is also applied to the hourly rate for part-time officers. For a full-time constable at the starting salary, London weighting brings the annual total to £34,314. The allowance is separate from basic pay and does not affect allowances calculated by reference to pay.

Overtime and Unsocial Hours

Police overtime is not a single rate. Rest day working is paid at time and a third (×1.33), while bank holiday working is typically double time (×2). Unsocial hours between 8pm and 6am attract a 10% enhancement on top of any overtime rate. For example, a constable on £18.10 per hour (pay point 5) working an eight-hour rest day shift would earn £24.07 per hour, or £192.56 for the shift. If any of those hours fall in the unsocial period, an extra £1.81 per hour is added. Always check your force’s local agreement, as some variations exist.

Regional Differences

While basic pay is national, London weighting creates a clear regional difference. Officers in the capital earn at least £3,150 more than their counterparts elsewhere. Additionally, forces in the South East may have local allowances, though these are less common. The cost of living in London is higher, so the weighting helps offset housing and travel costs. For officers outside London, the national salary is the same whether you serve in a rural force or a large city force like Greater Manchester.

Seniority and Incremental Progression

A constable typically reaches the top of the pay scale in six years, provided they meet the pay progression standard each year. The annual increment is worth at least 2% of salary and often 4–6%. Sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors usually reach their maximum in three to four years. Superintending ranks have fewer pay points but still progress annually. This means a police officer’s earnings can increase significantly over the first few years of service.

How to Use This Information

Whether you are comparing job offers or planning your career, understanding the full picture of police officer salary UK helps you make informed decisions. Remember that your actual take-home pay will be lower after deductions for tax, National Insurance and pension contributions. For a quick conversion of any hourly rate to annual salary, visit our salary data page for benchmarks and tools.

Disclaimer

Hourly-to-salary figures assume a steady contracted week with no unpaid overtime, bonus, tips or salary sacrifice. Annual ≈ hourly × hours/week × 52. Actual pay depends on rota, holiday pay method, London weighting and overtime rules. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance.