Patrol CompanionThe 2026 award adds 3.5% to basic pay from 1 September 2026. Take-home pay rises by less than that in cash terms, because income tax, National Insurance and pension contributions are taken from the extra pay as well.
For a constable on pay point 1, about 62p of every extra £1 of basic pay reaches take-home pay. For a constable on pay point 7 it is about 67p.
Monthly take-home at every pay point
"Before" uses the rate from 1 September 2025 and "after" uses that rate plus 3.5%. Both use the same 2026 to 2027 tax, National Insurance and pension rates, so the difference comes from the pay award alone.
Constables
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +£1,091 | £1,896 | £1,952 | +£56 |
| 2 | +£1,137 | £1,963 | £2,021 | +£58 |
| 3 | +£1,183 | £2,031 | £2,091 | +£61 |
| 4 | +£1,229 | £2,098 | £2,161 | +£63 |
| 5 | +£1,321 | £2,208 | £2,275 | +£67 |
| 6 | +£1,506 | £2,477 | £2,554 | +£76 |
| 7 | +£1,759 | £2,844 | £2,942 | +£98 |
Sergeants
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | +£1,875 | £3,028 | £3,133 | +£105 |
| 3 | +£1,913 | £3,089 | £3,196 | +£107 |
| 4 | +£1,967 | £3,175 | £3,285 | +£110 |
Inspectors
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | +£2,232 | £3,519 | £3,612 | +£92 |
| 1 | +£2,293 | £3,591 | £3,686 | +£95 |
| 2 | +£2,353 | £3,663 | £3,760 | +£97 |
| 3 | +£2,414 | £3,735 | £3,835 | +£100 |
Chief inspectors
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +£2,462 | £3,792 | £3,893 | +£102 |
| 2 | +£2,510 | £3,848 | £3,952 | +£104 |
| 3 | +£2,560 | £3,908 | £4,014 | +£106 |
Superintendents
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +£2,946 | £4,350 | £4,471 | +£121 |
| 2 | +£3,096 | £4,526 | £4,654 | +£128 |
| 3 | +£3,253 | £4,712 | £4,846 | +£134 |
| 4 | +£3,466 | £4,962 | £5,104 | +£143 |
Chief superintendents
| Pay point | Basic pay rise a year | Take-home before | Take-home after | Change a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +£3,633 | £5,159 | £5,308 | +£150 |
| 2 | +£3,753 | £5,300 | £5,455 | +£155 |
| 3 | +£4,052 | £5,653 | £5,773 | +£120 |
Inspectors and chief inspectors shown on the scale for forces outside London. Constables shown on the scale for officers who joined on or after 1 April 2013.
Points to note
Constables at the top of the scale
Pay point 7 rises to £52,015, which is above the National Insurance upper earnings limit of £50,270. National Insurance on the part above that limit is charged at 2% instead of 8%.
Police pension contributions are taken before income tax. At 13.88%, the salary income tax is worked out on is about £44,795, which is below the £50,270 higher-rate threshold. A constable on pay point 7 whose only income is basic pay therefore still pays basic-rate tax on it. Overtime, allowances and other income can change this.
Pension contribution tiers
Police Pension Scheme 2015 contribution rates changed on 1 April 2026. The rate is 12.88% on pensionable pay up to £37,035, 13.88% above that and below £79,588, and 14.22% from £79,588. Your tier is based on your actual pensionable pay in the previous scheme year and is reviewed each April.
- A constable on pay point 4 earns £36,335 after the award, inside the 12.88% tier. Pay point 5, at £39,058, is in the 13.88% tier.
- Superintendents start at £87,123 after the award, inside the 14.22% tier at every pay point.
Chief superintendents above £100,000
The personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. A chief superintendent on pay point 3 earns £119,837 after the award. After pension contributions of 14.22%, the income used for this test is about £102,796, so part of the personal allowance is lost.
How the figures are worked out
- Full-time basic pay only, with no allowances, overtime, student loan or salary sacrifice.
- Tax code 1257L, with England and Wales income tax and Class 1 National Insurance for 2026 to 2027: income tax at 20% up to £50,270 and 40% above it, and National Insurance at 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above.
- Police Pension Scheme 2015 contributions at the tier for the salary shown, taken before tax.
- The 2026 salaries are the 1 September 2025 rates with 3.5% applied, rounded to the nearest pound. The Home Office sets the exact figures in Annex F of the Police Regulations 2003.
Sources
Home Office, Annex F (amendment): pay, Circular 011/2026; written statement HCWS264, 15 July 2026; HMRC, rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; Police Pension Scheme 2015 contribution rates from 1 April 2026. Checked on 2 October 2026.
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