The exact method and every rate behind the figures, so you can check the maths yourself.
Gross pay applies the confirmed 2026/27 award of 3.5% to the official September 2025 pay scales for England and Wales.
Police basic pay is set nationally, so a constable at a given pay point earns the same in every force. London Weighting and some South East allowances are added on top, and we let you include them by choosing your location. The official statutory determination for 2026/27 is not yet published, so these figures are accurate to within a pound or two pending that release.
The PPS 2015 pension is charged on your pensionable pay, which is your basic pay plus London Weighting. It is taken before income tax, so you get tax relief at your highest rate. The contribution rate depends on your pensionable pay:
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £37,035 | 12.88% |
| £37,036 to £79,588 | 13.88% |
| £79,589 and above | 14.22% |
Income tax is charged on your pay after the pension deduction. The bands for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are:
| Band | Income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
The higher-rate threshold is frozen at £50,270, so as pay rises a larger share is taxed at 40%. Above £100,000 the personal allowance is withdrawn by £1 for every £2 earned, which our calculators apply, creating an effective 60% band up to £125,140.
National Insurance is charged on your gross pay and is not reduced by your pension:
| Band | Income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Below primary threshold | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Main rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 8% |
| Upper rate | Over £50,270 | 2% |
If you have a student loan, repayments are 9% of earnings above your plan threshold, or 6% for a postgraduate loan. The 2026/27 thresholds are:
| Plan | Annual threshold | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate | £21,000 | 6% |
When a force applies the award late, you are owed the difference between your old and new pay for each month you were paid at the old rate, backdated to 1 September 2026. We total those months, including the uplift to London and South East allowances, then show the figure after pension, tax and National Insurance. Because the arrears are paid in one month, PAYE can deduct heavily in that payslip before it evens out.
Overtime is paid to constables and sergeants only, on basic pay, and is not pensionable. Your basic hourly rate is your annual basic pay spread across the standard working year, with the enhancement added on top:
| Circumstance | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard overtime | Time + ⅓ |
| Rest day, under 15 days notice | Time + ½ |
| Public holiday | Double time |
Because your basic salary already uses your personal allowance, overtime is taxed from the first pound, and at 40% once your total pay passes £50,270.
Unless you change them, our calculators assume the PPS 2015 pension, tax code 1257L, no student loan, no regional allowance and full-time hours. The take-home calculator lets you adjust all of these. Figures are estimates for guidance and are not financial advice. See our About page for our sources.