Police Constable Pay Scale 2026/27
Reviewed by James Sheridan, CIPP-qualified payroll specialist · Last verified
Your results
- Annual salary
- £52,014.00
- Hourly rate
- £24.94
- Time and a third
- £33.25
Estimates only, based on 2026/27 HMRC rates. Verify against GOV.UK before making payroll decisions.
A police constable in England and Wales earns £32,255 at PP1 rising to £52,014 at PP7 in 2026/27, following the confirmed 3.5% pay award. Pay increases annually through seven pay points. This page covers the full constable pay scale, the legacy (pre-2013) scale, hourly rates, overtime calculations and estimated take-home pay. For all ranks, see the [police pay scale calculator](/police-pay-scale-calculator/).
How to use this calculator
- Identify your pay point. PP1 is your starting point. You advance one pay point each year on the anniversary of joining, subject to satisfactory performance.
- Check post-2013 or legacy. Officers appointed before 1 April 2013 may be on the legacy scale, which starts at PP0. Both scales converge at the top.
- Calculate overtime. Divide your annual salary by 2,085.6 to get the hourly rate. Multiply by 1.33 for rest-day work or by 2 for bank holidays.
- Estimate take-home. Deduct 12.44% pension, income tax and National Insurance. London officers add £3,150 weighting first.
How it is calculated
Constable hourly rate = annual salary ÷ 2,085.6 (40 hours × 52.14 weeks). Rest-day overtime is time and a third (×1.33); bank-holiday working is double time (×2). Pension is 12.44% of pensionable pay, deducted before income tax.
Constable pay scale 2026/27 (post-2013)
Officers appointed on or after 1 April 2013 follow the seven-point constable scale below. Progression is annual, one pay point per year of satisfactory service.
| Pay point | Annual salary | Monthly gross | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP1 | £32,255 | £2,688 | £15.47 |
| PP2 | £33,609 | £2,801 | £16.11 |
| PP3 | £34,972 | £2,914 | £16.77 |
| PP4 | £36,335 | £3,028 | £17.42 |
| PP5 | £39,068 | £3,256 | £18.73 |
| PP6 | £44,544 | £3,712 | £21.36 |
| PP7 | £52,014 | £4,335 | £24.94 |
Pay Point 1 applies during the two-year probationary period. Most constables reach PP7 after seven years of service.
Legacy constable pay scale (pre-2013)
Officers who joined before 1 April 2013 may remain on the legacy pay structure, which includes PP0. The legacy scale is being phased out as officers progress or retire.
| Pay point | Annual salary | Monthly gross | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP0 | £33,969 | £2,831 | £16.29 |
| PP1 | £35,252 | £2,938 | £16.90 |
| PP2 | £34,972 | £2,914 | £16.77 |
| PP3 | £36,335 | £3,028 | £17.42 |
| PP4 | £39,068 | £3,256 | £18.73 |
| PP5 | £44,544 | £3,712 | £21.36 |
| PP6 | £52,014 | £4,335 | £24.94 |
Both scales converge at the top (PP7 = £52,014). If you joined before 2013 and have not yet reached PP7, check your payslip for the legacy or post-2013 designation.
Starting salary and probationer pay
A new police constable starts at £32,255 (PP1). During the two-year probationary period (known as the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme, or IPLDP), officers remain on PP1 and PP2. On successful completion of probation, officers continue to progress through the scale annually.
The starting salary means a monthly gross of approximately £2,688 before pension and tax. After 12.44% pension deduction and basic-rate income tax, a starting constable’s estimated monthly take-home is roughly £1,961. Use the [take-home pay calculator](/take-home-pay-calculator/) for an exact figure.
Constable overtime and hourly rates
Constables are entitled to paid overtime under Police Regulations 2003. The rates are:
- Rest-day working: time and a third (×1.33 of hourly rate)
- Bank holiday: double time (×2)
- Casual overtime: time and a third (minimum 4 hours’ pay)
A PP1 constable earning £32,255 has an hourly rate of £15.47. A rest-day shift at time and a third pays £20.62 per hour, while a bank-holiday shift at double time pays £30.93 per hour. A PP7 constable earning £52,014 has an hourly rate of £24.94. A rest-day shift at time and a third pays £33.25 per hour, while a bank-holiday shift at double time pays £49.88 per hour.
Overtime is calculated on the basic hourly rate only. London Weighting is not included in the overtime calculation.
London and regional allowances
Metropolitan Police and City of London officers receive London Weighting of £3,150 per year. A PP1 constable in London therefore earns £35,405 gross, and a PP7 constable earns £55,164 gross.
Some Home Counties forces offer a South East allowance of £2,000–£3,000. Allowances vary by force and are set locally. They are added to gross pay before tax and pension.
Pension and take-home at each pay point
All constables contribute 12.44% of pensionable pay to the CARE 2015 scheme. Because pension is deducted before tax, it reduces the amount of income tax you pay. National Insurance is calculated on gross pay.
| Pay point | Gross salary | Annual pension | After pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP1 | £32,255 | £4,013 | £28,242 |
| PP2 | £33,609 | £4,181 | £29,428 |
| PP3 | £34,972 | £4,351 | £30,621 |
| PP4 | £36,335 | £4,520 | £31,815 |
| PP5 | £39,068 | £4,860 | £34,208 |
| PP6 | £44,544 | £5,541 | £39,003 |
| PP7 | £52,014 | £6,471 | £45,543 |
Progression and promotion to sergeant
A constable who reaches PP7 stays at the top of the constable scale until they are promoted. There is no further pay increase within the constable rank beyond PP7.
Promotion to sergeant requires passing the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF) assessment, which includes an online exam and a work-based assessment. On promotion, a constable moves to the [sergeant pay scale](/police-sergeant-pay-calculator/) at £55,443 (PP1), an immediate increase of £3,429 over constable PP7.
Detective constables follow the same pay scale as uniformed constables. The DC designation does not carry a pay premium under current regulations.
Key rates — tax year 2026/27
Source: GOV.UK, "Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027" (HMRC).
| Employer NI main rate | 15% |
|---|---|
| Secondary threshold (annual) | £5,000.00 |
| Employment Allowance | £10,500.00 |
| Employee NI main rate | 8% |
| Primary threshold (annual) | £12,570.00 |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570.00 |
| Basic income tax rate | 20% |
| SSP weekly rate | £123.25 |
| SMP weekly rate (flat weeks) | £194.32 |
| Auto-enrolment employer minimum | 3% |
| Auto-enrolment employee minimum | 5% |
| National Living Wage (21+, per hour) | £12.71 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the starting salary for a police constable in 2026?
A starting police constable in England and Wales earns £32,255 per year (PP1) from 1 September 2026. Monthly gross is approximately £2,688.
How long does it take to reach the top of the constable pay scale?
A constable progresses through seven pay points (PP1–PP7) over approximately seven years, advancing one point per year of satisfactory performance.
What is the difference between legacy and post-2013 constable pay?
Officers who joined before 1 April 2013 may be on the legacy scale starting at PP0 (£33,969). The post-2013 scale starts at PP1 (£32,255). Both converge at PP7 (£52,014).
How much overtime does a constable earn?
Rest-day overtime is time and a third (×1.33). A PP7 constable earning £24.94 per hour gets £33.25 per hour for rest-day work and £49.88 for bank holidays.
Do detective constables earn more than uniformed constables?
No. Detective constables follow the same national pay scale as uniformed constables. The detective designation does not carry an automatic pay premium.
How much is a constable’s pension contribution?
Constables contribute 12.44% of pensionable pay under the CARE 2015 scheme. At PP7 (£52,014), this is approximately £6,471 per year or £539 per month.
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