NPCC Ranks · ACC · DCC · Chief Constable · Met Commissioner
Chief Constable Salary UK (2026/27): Chief Officer Pay Scales (ACC, DCC & Met)
Chief officers — Assistant Chief Constable (ACC), Deputy Chief Constable (DCC), Chief Constable, and the Metropolitan Police ranks from Commander to Commissioner— sit above the federated and superintendent scales. Here are the 2026/27 salaries by force weighting across England & Wales, Police Scotland and the Met, with estimated monthly take-home pay after pension, income tax (including the £100k personal allowance taper) and NI.
1. Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) & Met Commander Pay Scale (2026/27)
Unlike Chief Constables and DCCs (whose salaries vary by force size), Assistant Chief Constables in England & Wales and Commanders in the Metropolitan and City of London Police are paid on a national 3-point scale:
| Rank & Pay Point (E&W) | 2025/26 Basic | 2026/27 Basic (+3.5%) | Est. Net Monthly (PPS 2015 14.22%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) / Met Commander — Point 1 | £127,455 | £131,916 | £6,099/mo |
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) / Met Commander — Point 2 | £135,678 | £140,427 | £6,305/mo |
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) / Met Commander — Point 3 | £143,889 | £148,926 | £6,537/mo |
2. Chief Constable & Deputy Chief Constable Salaries by Force Band (England & Wales)
Under Home Office Determination Annex F, each of the 43 forces in England & Wales has a statutory spot salary weighted by population and policing demand. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) may set a Chief Constable's base salary up to 10% above or below the national Annex F spot rate on appointment:
| Force Weighting Band | Example Forces | Chief Constable Spot Salary (2026/27) | Est. Net / mo | Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police — Commissioner of the Metropolis | Metropolitan Police Service (New Scotland Yard) | £325,071 | £13,168/mo | Deputy Commissioner: £269,730 · Assistant Commissioner: £245,946 |
| Weighting Band 1 (Largest Metropolitan Forces — weight 10.0) | Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police | £243,594 | £10,101/mo | DCC: £194,874 (Met DAC equivalent) |
| Weighting Band 2 (Large Urban Forces — weight 8.0–9.0) | West Yorkshire Police, Thames Valley Police, Merseyside Police | £227,364 | £9,490/mo | DCC: £181,890 |
| Weighting Band 3 (Medium-Large Forces — weight 5.5–7.5) | Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Devon & Cornwall, South Wales, Northumbria | £211,140 | £8,879/mo | DCC: £174,189 |
| Weighting Band 4 (Medium Shire Forces — weight 3.5–5.0) | Sussex, Avon & Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire | £199,779 | £8,451/mo | DCC: £164,817 |
| Weighting Band 5 (Smaller Territorial Forces — weight 1.5–3.0) | Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dyfed-Powys, City of London | £183,555 | £7,841/mo | DCC: £151,434 |
3. Police Scotland Chief Officer Salaries (Effective 1 April 2026)
Because Police Scotlandis the UK's second-largest police force (~16,600 officers covering the whole of Scotland), its Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constables and Assistant Chief Constables sit near the top of the UK chief officer pay structure under PNBS Circular 2025/09 (+3.5%):
| Police Scotland Chief Officer Rank | 2026/27 Annual Salary (1 Apr 2026) | Est. Net Monthly (Scottish Tax + 13.7% SPPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) — Pay point 1 | £164,043 | £6,693/mo |
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) — Pay point 2 | £170,401 | £6,920/mo |
| Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) — Pay point 3 | £174,216 | £7,056/mo |
| Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) | £230,580 | £9,070/mo |
| Chief Constable of Police Scotland | £281,522 | £10,890/mo |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chief Constable earn in the UK in 2026/27?
In England and Wales, Chief Constable salaries depend on the size and weighting of the force under Home Office Determination Annex F (plus local Police and Crime Commissioner flexibility of ±10%). From 1 September 2026 (+3.5% award), Chief Constable spot salaries run from roughly £183,555 in smaller shire forces up to £243,594 in the largest metropolitan forces (Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police). The Chief Constable of Police Scotland earns £281,522 (effective 1 April 2026), and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police earns approximately £325,071.
What is an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) salary in 2026/27?
In England and Wales, Assistant Chief Constables (and Metropolitan Police Commanders) sit on a 3-point national scale running from £131,916 (Point 1) to £148,926 (Point 3) from 1 September 2026. In Police Scotland, Assistant Chief Constables earn £164,043 to £174,216 across three pay points from 1 April 2026.
What is a Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) salary in 2026/27?
In England and Wales, a Deputy Chief Constable's spot salary is linked to their force's weighting band (typically 80%–82.5% of the Chief Constable's spot rate), ranging from roughly £151,434 in smaller forces to £194,874 in Greater Manchester and West Midlands. In Police Scotland, the Deputy Chief Constable salary is £230,580 from 1 April 2026.
Why do Chief Officers face a 60% (or 67.5% in Scotland) marginal tax trap between £100,000 and £125,140?
Under UK income tax rules, your £12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance is tapered away by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000, disappearing completely at £125,140. Because PPS 2015 pension contributions (14.22% in E&W, 13.7% in Scotland) are deducted before income tax, an officer only hits the £100,000 adjusted net income threshold once their gross salary passes roughly £116,580 — meaning Chief Superintendents and newly promoted ACCs feel the 60% (67.5% in Scotland) taper zone.
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Sources: Home Office Police Regulations 2003 Annex F (Chief Officer spot salaries & 1 September 2026 3.5% PRRB uplift); Police Scotland Pay and Grading Structure (PNBS Circular 2025/09, effective 1 April 2026).