Chief Inspector Salary: Official Pay Scales and How They Work

If you're researching a chief inspector salary in England and Wales, the most reliable source is the official pay determination published by GOV.UK under the Police Regulations 2003. Chief inspectors are senior officers who have moved beyond the rank of inspector and are paid on a fixed salary scale with no entitlement to paid overtime. This article explains the current pay points, how the notional hourly rate is calculated, and what London weighting means for your take-home pay.

Official Chief Inspector Pay Points (2025/26)

The pay scales for chief inspectors are set out in Annex F of the Police Regulations. With effect from 1 September 2025, the annual salaries are:

Forces outside London

• Pay point 1: £70,344
• Pay point 2: £71,715
• Pay point 3: £73,149

Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police

• Pay point 1: £73,062
• Pay point 2: £74,427
• Pay point 3: £75,855

Additionally, officers who were in post at 31 August 1994 receive a protected higher rate:

• Outside London: £74,310
• London: £77,004

These figures come directly from the GOV.UK publication "Annex F (amendment) – pay (accessible)" and are the most authoritative source for 2025/26.

London Weighting for Chief Inspectors

If you serve in the City of London or Metropolitan Police, your annual pay is increased by £3,150 as London weighting. This is added to your basic salary. For example, a chief inspector at pay point 3 in London would receive £75,855 + £3,150 = £79,005 gross per year. The weighting is also applied proportionally to part-time officers using the formula: hourly increase = £3,150 × 6/12520.

Notional Hourly Rate for Chief Inspectors

Unlike constables and sergeants, chief inspectors are salaried ranks and do not receive paid overtime. The hourly rate is only used for calculating part-time pay or for reference. Under the Police Regulations, the hourly rate for a part-time member is:

Hourly rate = annual salary × 6/12520

This works out to approximately annual salary ÷ 2,086.67. For a chief inspector at the top of the national scale (£73,149), the notional hourly rate is about £35.07. In London with weighting, the hourly rate would be higher.

It's important to note that this is not an hourly wage you would be paid; it's a calculation used only for part-time work or for comparing with other roles. If you are full-time, you receive the fixed annual salary regardless of hours worked (typically 40 hours per week for police officers).

How Chief Inspector Salary Compares to UK Median Earnings

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for 2025 shows the median full-time gross annual pay in the UK is around £39,039. A chief inspector's salary starts at over £70,000, which is well above the national median. Even after accounting for pension contributions (12.44% under the CARE 2015 scheme) and tax, the take-home pay for a chief inspector is significantly higher than the average UK worker.

No Paid Overtime – A Key Difference

One of the biggest financial considerations when moving from sergeant to inspector (and then to chief inspector) is the loss of paid overtime. Sergeants can earn substantial overtime, but inspectors and above are salaried. Some forces offer rest-day compensation or time off in lieu, but this is not guaranteed nationally. If you are considering promotion, factor in that your total earnings may not increase as much as the salary difference suggests if you currently rely on overtime.

Using the Hourly to Salary Converter

If you are comparing a chief inspector salary with an hourly-paid role, you can use our Hourly to Salary calculator. Remember that the notional hourly rate for a chief inspector is based on a 40-hour week and 52 weeks per year, but actual working patterns may vary. For a more detailed breakdown of UK pay benchmarks, visit our salary data page.

Part-Time Chief Inspectors

If you work part-time as a chief inspector, your pay is calculated using the hourly rate formula above. For example, if you work 20 hours per week, your annual salary would be approximately (20/40) × full-time salary, but the exact calculation uses the hourly rate multiplied by your contracted hours. The London weighting is also adjusted proportionally.

What About 2026/27 Pay?

The government has indicated a 3.5% uplift for police pay from September 2026, but the official determination has not yet been published. Unofficial estimates suggest chief inspector pay points could rise to around £74,393 (PP1) to £77,474 (PP3) outside London, with London rates proportionally higher. Always check the latest GOV.UK publication for confirmed figures.

Summary

• Chief inspector salary (2025/26): £70,344–£73,149 (outside London); £73,062–£75,855 (London) plus £3,150 weighting.
• Notional hourly rate: approximately £35.07 at top of national scale.
• No paid overtime; salaried rank.
• London weighting adds £3,150 per year.
• Use the official GOV.UK Annex F for the most accurate figures.

For more articles on UK salaries and hourly rates, explore our topics page or read about salary articles covering a wide range of occupations.