Police Service of Scotland · 1 April 2026 salaries
Police Scotland ranks in order: badges, roles & 2026/27 salary
Formed in 2013 from Scotland's eight legacy regional forces, Police Scotland is the second-largest police service in the UK after the Metropolitan Police. It uses the nine standard British police ranks from Constable to Chief Constable, organised across 13 territorial divisions and national specialist divisions. Below is every rank in order, its epaulette insignia, its detective title and its confirmed 2026/27 salary.
Looking for England & Wales or London ranks? See UK police ranks in order →
Police Scotland rank structure from lowest to highest
1.
Constable (PC · CID: DC)
Core operational officers in local policing divisions, road policing, response and community teams across Scotland.
Insignia: Shoulder number only (silver lettering on black epaulette).
Scotland salary (2026/27): £34,001 – £54,597 gross (£2,026 – £3,020/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every constable pay point →
2.
Sergeant (PS or Sgt · CID: DS)
First-line operational supervisor leading a shift of constables, supervising custody centres or managing local CID teams.
Insignia: Three point-down chevrons above the shoulder number.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £56,455 – £61,036 gross (£3,095 – £3,278/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every sergeant pay point →
3.
Inspector (Insp · CID: DI)
Watches over community policing areas, response shifts or specialist operational units; senior operational supervisor on duty.
Insignia: Two Bath stars ("pips").
Scotland salary (2026/27): £67,491 – £74,853 gross (£3,537 – £3,831/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every inspector pay point →
4.
Chief Inspector (CI or Ch Insp · CID: DCI)
Area commander within one of Police Scotland’s 13 local policing divisions, or Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) in CID and major crime.
Insignia: Three Bath stars.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £76,087 – £80,989 gross (£3,881 – £4,077/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every chief inspector pay point →
5.
Superintendent (Supt · CID: Det Supt)
Senior operational commander responsible for Partnerships, Prevention or Operations within a territorial division or national specialist division.
Insignia: A crown.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £89,569 – £105,632 gross (£4,415 – £5,024/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every superintendent pay point →
6.
Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt · CID: Det Ch Supt)
Divisional Commander leading one of Police Scotland’s 13 territorial divisions (such as Greater Glasgow, Edinburgh or North East) or a national department.
Insignia: A crown above a Bath star.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £110,803 – £120,554 gross (£5,219 – £5,513/month net after Scottish tax & 13.7% SPPA pension). Every chief superintendent pay point →
7.
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC)
Executive officer on the Force Executive, holding a national portfolio such as Local Policing, Major Crime, Operational Support or Professionalism.
Insignia: Crossed tipstaves within a laurel wreath.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £164,043 – £174,216 (3 pay points). Executive pay table →
8.
Deputy Chief Constable (DCC)
Deputises for the Chief Constable and oversees broad force-wide command portfolios.
Insignia: A Bath star above crossed tipstaves within a laurel wreath.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £230,580 (spot rate). Executive pay table →
9.
Chief Constable (CC)
Head of the Police Service of Scotland, appointed by and accountable to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
Insignia: A crown above crossed tipstaves within a laurel wreath.
Scotland salary (2026/27): £281,522 (spot rate). Executive pay table →
Note: Police Scotland originated the black-and-white diced Sillitoe tartan cap band in 1932 (introduced in Glasgow by Chief Constable Percy Sillitoe). Cap badges carry the Crown of Scotland.
Detective ranks and CID in Police Scotland
Officers in local Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) and Police Scotland's national Specialist Crime Division (SCD) — which covers Major Investigation Teams (MIT), Public Protection, Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism — use the prefix Detective before their rank:
- Detective Constable (DC): £34,001 – £54,597 gross (£2,026 – £3,020/month net)
- Detective Sergeant (DS): £56,455 – £61,036 gross (£3,095 – £3,278/month net)
- Detective Inspector (DI): £67,491 – £74,853 gross (£3,537 – £3,831/month net)
- Detective Chief Inspector (DCI): £76,087 – £80,989 gross (£3,881 – £4,077/month net)
As in the rest of the UK, detective ranks carry the same authority and sit on the exact same pay points as uniformed officers of the same rank. Training to become a detective in Scotland runs through the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh and the National Initial Investigative Interviewing and Investigation pathway rather than the College of Policing NIE exam used in England and Wales.
Promotion in Police Scotland: PLDP (replacing the DPSLM)
Scotland has its own legal system (Scots criminal law and corroboration rules) and its own statutory promotion framework under the Police Service of Scotland (Promotion) Regulations. It does not use the England and Wales National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF).
Since the Police Service of Scotland (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020, the qualification for promotion to Sergeant is the workplace-assessed Police Leadership Development Programme (PLDP), which replaced the older academic Diploma in Police Service Leadership and Management (DPSLM). Officers who already hold the DPSLM retain their qualification for promotion.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Police Scotland ranks in order?
From lowest to highest: Constable (PC), Sergeant (PS), Inspector (Insp), Chief Inspector (CI), Superintendent (Supt), Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt), Assistant Chief Constable (ACC), Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) and Chief Constable (CC). Because Police Scotland is a single national force, there is one Chief Constable for the whole of Scotland.
How much does each rank earn in Police Scotland in 2026/27?
From 1 April 2026: Constable £34,001–£54,597; Sergeant £56,455–£61,036; Inspector £67,491–£74,853; Chief Inspector £76,087–£80,989; Superintendent £89,569–£105,632; Chief Superintendent £110,803–£120,554; ACC £164,043–£174,216; DCC £230,580; Chief Constable £281,522.
Are Police Scotland rank badges the same as England and Wales?
The epaulette rank insignia from Constable to Chief Constable use the same symbols (chevrons, Bath stars, crown and crossed tipstaves in a wreath). However, the cap badge worn on the traditional black-and-white diced Sillitoe tartan cap features the Crest of Scotland and the Crown of Scotland rather than the St Edward’s Crown.
Do detectives in Police Scotland get paid more than uniformed officers?
No. A Detective Constable (DC), Detective Sergeant (DS), Detective Inspector (DI) or Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) in Police Scotland is paid on the exact same salary scale as a uniformed officer of that rank.
How does promotion work in Police Scotland?
Unlike England and Wales (which uses the National Police Promotion Framework legal exam), promotion to Sergeant and Inspector in Police Scotland runs through the Police Leadership Development Programme (PLDP), which replaced the older Diploma in Police Service Leadership and Management (DPSLM) under the 2020 Promotion Regulations.
Sources: Police Scotland, Pay and Grading Structure (effective 1 April 2026); Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012; The Police Service of Scotland (Promotion) Regulations 2013 as amended in 2020.