2026/27 Pay Scales · PCEP · PCDA · DHEP · Direct Entry DC
Police Officer Starting Salary UK (2026/27): Entry Routes, Training Pay & Take-Home
From day one of paid training, a new Police Constable in England & Wales starts on Pay Point 1 at £32,256 (£1,952/month take-home after pension, tax and NI), rising to £42,335 (£2,528/month net) in the Metropolitan Police and £34,001 (£2,026/month net) in Police Scotland. Every entry route — degree apprenticeship (PCDA), graduate (DHEP), non-degree (PCEP) and trainee detective — now starts on the same base salary.
1. Police Starting Salary by Region & Force Group (2026/27)
Your starting salary depends on where in the UK you serve and whether your force pays London or South East location allowances:
| Force / Region | Starting Gross Salary (Day 1) | Starting Net Take-Home / mo | Year 2 Salary (After 12 Months) | Top Constable Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England & Wales National (33 forces) | £32,256 | £1,952/mo | £33,609 | £52,014 (Year 7) |
| South East Allowance Forces (8 forces) | £33,756 – £35,256 | £2,042 – £2,132/mo | £35,109 – £36,609 | £53,514 – £55,014 |
| Metropolitan Police & City of London | £42,335 | £2,528/mo | £43,688 | £62,093 (Year 7) |
| Police Scotland (1 Apr 2026 scale) | £34,001 | £2,026/mo | £36,995 (+9.5%) | £54,597 (PP11) |
| PSNI (Northern Ireland, incl. £4,283 NITA) | £35,447 | £2,153/mo | 2026/27 NI award pending | 2025/26 scale + NITA |
2. Starting Salary by Entry Route: PCEP vs PCDA vs DHEP vs Trainee Detective
Following the abolition of the old lower “Pay Point 0” apprentice scale, all four entry routes into England & Wales policing pay the exact same starting salary (£32,256 national / £42,335 in London):
Police Constable Entry Programme (Non-Degree Route)
Replaced the old IPLDP route from April 2024 across most forces in England & Wales. Open to candidates without a degree (typically requiring Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience). You earn full Pay Point 1 salary from day one of initial training.
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Combine operational policing with a fully funded university degree (zero student loan tuition fees). Following the removal of the lower apprentice/PP0 starting point, PCDA student officers start on full Pay Point 1 salary from day one, including protected university study blocks.
Degree Holder Entry Programme (Graduate Route)
For candidates who already hold an honours degree in any subject. You are attested as a constable in week one, paid on Pay Point 1 immediately, and move up to Pay Point 2 after 12 months.
Direct Entry / Trainee Detective Constable Pathway
Direct-entry trainee detectives start on the exact same Constable Pay Point 1 salary as uniformed recruits while completing initial training, sitting the National Investigators’ Exam (NIE) and building their PIP Level 2 portfolio.
3. How Your Salary Grows Each Year After Joining (Years 1 to 7)
New recruits move up one pay point every 12 months on the anniversary of their joining date. On the 2026/27 England & Wales scale, your basic salary rises by £19,758 (+61.3%) between Day 1 (PP1) and the top of the constable scale (PP7):
| Service Year | Pay Point | National Gross Salary | National Net / mo | Monthly Net Step-Up | Met Police Gross (incl. London) | Met Net / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | PP1 | £32,256 | £1,952/mo | Starting point | £42,335 | £2,528/mo |
| Year 2 | PP2 | £33,609 | £2,021/mo | +£70/mo | £43,688 | £2,598/mo |
| Year 3 | PP3 | £34,971 | £2,091/mo | +£70/mo | £45,050 | £2,643/mo |
| Year 4 | PP4 | £36,336 | £2,161/mo | +£70/mo | £46,415 | £2,712/mo |
| Year 5 | PP5 | £39,057 | £2,275/mo | +£114/mo | £49,136 | £2,850/mo |
| Year 6 | PP6 | £44,544 | £2,554/mo | +£278/mo | £54,623 | £3,150/mo |
| Year 7 | PP7 | £52,014 | £2,942/mo | +£388/mo | £62,093 | £3,497/mo |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the starting salary for a police officer in the UK in 2026/27?
From 1 September 2026, a new Police Constable in England & Wales starts on Pay Point 1 at £32,256 gross per year (£1,952/month take-home after PPS 2015 pension, income tax and National Insurance). In the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, London Weighting and London Allowance (+£10,079) lift the starting package to £42,335 gross (£2,528/month net). In Police Scotland, recruits start on £34,001 (£2,026/month net) and jump to £36,995 after 12 months.
Do trainee police officers get paid during training?
Yes. You are paid a full salary from your very first day of initial training at police college / Hendon / Tulliallan. You do not wait until passing out or hitting independent patrol to start earning £32,256 (£34,001 in Scotland).
Does a Police Constable Degree Apprentice (PCDA) earn less than a graduate recruit?
No. Historically, forces could start recruits on a lower "Pay Point 0" scale, and forces had flexibility over PCDA starting pay. Following PRRB recommendations implemented across 2023–2024, Pay Point 0 was abolished: PCDA apprentices, DHEP graduates and PCEP recruits now all start on at least Constable Pay Point 1 (£32,256 national, £42,335 in the Met), and PCDA tuition fees are 100% funded by the force.
How quickly does a police officer salary increase after joining?
In England & Wales, you receive an automatic annual increment every 12 months on the 7-point constable scale (subject to satisfactory PDR), plus whatever annual national pay award is agreed each September. On the 2026/27 scale, basic pay rises from £32,256 in Year 1 (PP1) to £52,014 in Year 7 (PP7) — a +61% gross pay increase in six years even before future annual awards.
Can you start above Pay Point 1 with previous experience?
Chief Constables have discretion under Police Regulations 2003 Annex F to start a new recruit on Pay Point 2 or higher if they have relevant prior experience (for example as a PCSO, Special Constable with Independent Patrol Status, or military/investigative background), though most forces still default new entrants to Pay Point 1 unless advertised otherwise. Re-joiners returning to policing re-enter at the pay point they held when they left.
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Sources: Police Regulations 2003 Annex F (1 September 2026 3.5% pay award); College of Policing Entry Routes framework (PCEP, PCDA, DHEP); Police Negotiating Board for Scotland Circular 2025/09 (effective 1 April 2026).