Answers · UK 2025/26

What is the take-home pay for a starting police constable in the UK?

A newly qualified police constable in England and Wales starts on the national pay scale at roughly £29,000 a year. For 2026/27, that gives take-home pay of £24,399.60 after £3,286 Income Tax and £1,314.40 National Insurance -- about £2,033.30 a month -- before Police Pension Scheme contributions.

Last updated: 3 July 2026Last reviewed: 3 July 2026How we verify

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Police constables in England and Wales are paid on a national pay scale set by the Police Remuneration Review Body, starting at a point worth roughly £29,000 a year for a newly attested constable, rising through incremental points to around £48,000 at the top of the constable scale over several years' service -- exact figures vary by pay award year and any London weighting or dog handler/firearms allowances. On the representative starting salary of £29,000 for 2026/27: taxable income after the £12,570 Personal Allowance is £16,430, all within the 20% basic rate band, giving £3,286 Income Tax. National Insurance is 8% of £16,430 = £1,314.40. Combined deductions of £4,600.40 leave £24,399.60 take-home pay a year, around £2,033.30 a month. All police officers are automatically enrolled in the Police Pension Scheme 2015 (a career average scheme), with employee contributions on a tiered structure typically starting around 12.9% of pensionable pay at this salary level, deducted before tax -- one of the higher public sector pension contribution rates, reflecting the scheme's valuable benefits including an unreduced pension from age 60.