CID · England & Wales · 2026/27
Detective salary UK: DC, DS, DI and DCI pay
There is no separate detective pay scale. A detective holds an ordinary police rank, so a detective constable is paid as a constable, a detective sergeant as a sergeant, and so on. Here is what each detective rank earns from 1 September 2026, what it takes home, and how to become one.
Detective pay by rank (2026/27)
| Detective rank | Salary (gross) | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|
| Detective constable (DC) | £32,256 – £52,014 | £1,952 – £2,942 |
| Detective sergeant (DS) | £55,443 – £58,176 | £3,133 – £3,285 |
| Detective inspector (DI) | £66,000 – £71,397 | £3,612 – £3,835 |
| Detective chief inspector (DCI) | £72,807 – £75,708 | £3,894 – £4,014 |
| Detective superintendent (Det Supt) | £87,123 – £102,480 | £4,471 – £5,104 |
| Detective chief superintendent (Det Ch Supt) | £107,430 – £119,838 | £5,308 – £5,773 |
Basic pay, PPS 2015 pension, tax code 1257L, no London or South East allowance. Met and City of London detectives add London Weighting and allowance: work out your own take-home.
Is there a detective allowance?
No national one. In its 2026 evidence the Police Federation proposed a detective allowance of around £1,250 a year. The chief officers did not support it: police regulations do not provide for skills-based allowances, and forces can already use targeted variable pay (TVP) to attract and keep detectives. The pay review body made no recommendation. So any extra money for a detective is set by your force, not nationally.
How to become a detective
1. Get selected as a trainee
A serving constable applies for a trainee detective constable (TDC) post in their force. Some forces also recruit detectives directly through a detective entry programme.
2. Pass the National Investigators’ Exam
The NIE opens PIP level 2 (serious and complex investigation). 80 questions in two hours, online; pass mark 55.7% (39 of 70 scored questions).
3. Complete PIP2 accreditation
A work-based portfolio, usually completed within 6 to 12 months of passing the NIE. You are then an accredited detective.
The NIE runs four times a year (2026: 4 March, 2 June, 8 September and 17 November). The College of Policing has not yet published the 2027 dates (checked 19 October 2026).
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a detective earn in the UK?
Detectives are paid the same as uniformed officers of the same rank. In England and Wales from 1 September 2026, a detective constable earns £32,256 to £52,014, about £1,952 to £2,942 a month after pension, tax and NI. A detective sergeant earns £55,443 to £58,176.
Is there a detective allowance?
Not nationally. In 2026 the Police Federation asked the pay review body for a detective allowance of around £1,250 a year; the chief officers (NPCC) did not support it, saying police regulations do not provide for skills-based allowances, and no allowance was recommended. Some forces pay detectives targeted variable pay (TVP) to recruit and keep them, at amounts they set locally. Ask your force.
How do you become a detective?
Either as a serving constable, by applying for a trainee detective constable post, passing the National Investigators’ Exam (NIE) and completing PIP level 2 accreditation; or by joining through a direct-entry detective programme, which some forces offer to new recruits.
What is the National Investigators’ Exam?
The NIE is the legal knowledge exam that opens the PIP level 2 (serious and complex investigation) programme. It is 80 multiple-choice questions in two hours, online; 70 are scored and the pass mark is 55.7% (39 of 70). A pass is valid for three years, less one day. The College recommends at least 14 weeks of study.
Do detectives earn more than uniformed officers?
Basic pay is identical rank for rank. Differences come from overtime, on-call and any force-level payments such as targeted variable pay, not from a detective pay scale.
Related: National Investigators' Exam (NIE) pass mark, dates & syllabus · police ranks and what DC, DS, DI and DCI mean · all police pay scales 2026/27. Sources: Police Remuneration Review Body, 2026 report (England and Wales), paras 4.161-4.167; College of Policing, NIE candidate handbook 2026.