Finance
Police Pay Rise Calculator
The Government confirmed a 3.5% pay awardfor police officers in England & Wales on 15 July 2026, effective 1 September 2026 and applying to all ranks. Use this calculator to see what it adds to your actual monthly take-home after pension, tax and NI — not just the headline percentage. Full 2026/27 pay award breakdown →
Now (to 31 Aug 2026)
Monthly take-home
£2,128
Annual take-home
£25,540
From Sep 2026 (3.5%)
Monthly take-home
£2,193
Annual take-home
£26,311
+£64 per month
+£771 per year
Get your exact September figure
The official new pay scales take effect on 1 September. Drop your email and we'll send you the exact new take-home for your rank the day they're published — no guessing. Free, unsubscribe any time.
The Government confirmed a 3.5% pay award on 15 July 2026, effective 1 September 2026. These figures apply that award to the current (September 2025) pay scales, so they're accurate to within a pound or two — we'll refine them the moment the official 2026 pay-scale tables are published. Take-home is after pension, tax and NI; your exact figure depends on your tax code.
Work overtime or unsocial hours?
Your new base pay is only part of the picture. The Shift Planner projects your real monthly take-home with overtime, unsocial hours and deductions all added in.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the 2026 police pay rise?
- The Government confirmed a 3.5% pay award for police officers in England and Wales on 15 July 2026, following the Police Remuneration Review Body and Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations. It applies to all ranks and takes effect from 1 September 2026. Officers still progressing up their pay scale also receive their normal increment (typically 4–6%) on top.
- Why is my take-home increase smaller than the headline percentage?
- Pension contributions, income tax and National Insurance all apply to your increased salary. A 3% gross increase typically translates to around 2% more take-home. If the rise pushes you into a higher pension contribution tier, the effective increase is even smaller — which is why this calculator shows you the actual net figure rather than the headline number.
- Will the pay rise affect my pension?
- Yes — your PPS 2015 CARE pension builds up based on your actual salary each year. A higher salary means a larger pension accrual for that year, which is a genuine long-term benefit even if the monthly take-home increase feels modest. The employer contribution (35.3% of pensionable pay) also rises with your salary, adding further value not reflected in your payslip.
- Are these figures exact?
- The 3.5% award is confirmed, and the calculator defaults to it. The figures apply that 3.5% to the current (September 2025) pay scales, so they are accurate to within a pound or two — the official 2026 pay-scale tables (published by the Police Federation shortly after the announcement) may round individual points slightly differently. We update with the exact figures the day they are released. The 2.5% and 3% buttons remain so you can compare other scenarios.