Understanding Detective Salary in the UK

When people search for "detective salary", they often expect a separate pay scale for investigative roles. In reality, detectives in England and Wales are paid exactly the same as uniformed officers of the same rank. A detective constable is a constable; a detective inspector is an inspector. The only difference is the role itself, not the base pay.

This article breaks down the latest 2026/27 detective salary figures, explains how to convert between hourly and annual pay, and covers London weighting, overtime, and take-home pay. If you're comparing a salaried detective role with an hourly job, our Hourly to Salary tool can help you see the annual equivalent.

Police Pay Scales 2026/27 (Detective Ranks)

The Home Office confirmed a 3.5% pay rise for all police ranks effective from 1 September 2026. The following figures are for officers outside London. Detectives in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police receive additional London weighting (see below).

Constable (appointed on or after 1 April 2013)

Pay Point	Annual Salary	Hourly Rate (40hr week)
PP1	£32,256	£15.47
PP2	£33,609	£16.11
PP3	£34,971	£16.77
PP4	£36,336	£17.42
PP5	£39,057	£18.73
PP6	£44,544	£21.36
PP7	£52,014	£24.94

Source: Home Office circular on police pay 2026/27.

Sergeant, Inspector and Above

Rank	Entry Annual Salary	Top Annual Salary
Detective Sergeant	£55,443	£58,175
Detective Inspector	£66,000	£71,396
Detective Chief Inspector	£72,806	£76,911
Detective Superintendent	£87,123	£102,481

Source: Detailed breakdown from policetakehome.co.uk analysis.

These salaries are gross (before deductions). For a full comparison with other professions, see our salary data page.

Hourly to Annual Conversion for Detectives

Police full-time hours are 40 per week, unlike the standard 37.5 hours used in many other sectors (e.g. NHS Agenda for Change). The annual salary is calculated over 52.14 weeks, giving 2,085.6 hours per year. To convert an hourly rate to annual:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × 40 × 52.14

For example, a detective constable at PP1 earning £15.47 per hour would have an annual salary of £15.47 × 2,085.6 ≈ £32,256.

If you are offered an hourly rate for a part-time detective role, the same hourly rate applies, but your annual pay is pro-rated based on your contracted hours. Use our hourly calculator to see the full-year equivalent.

London Weighting for Detectives

Detectives working in the Metropolitan Police or City of London Police receive a substantial London weighting on top of their rank salary. For 2026/27, this totals £10,079 per year (pensionable), broken down as:

• London Weighting: £3,260
• London Allowance: £6,819

This means a detective constable at PP1 in London earns £32,256 + £10,079 = £42,335 gross per year. The hourly rate also increases accordingly.

Overtime Pay for Detectives

Detective constables and sergeants are eligible for overtime. The standard rates are:

• Time and a third (×1.33) for rest day working
• Double time (×2) for bank holidays

For example, a detective constable at PP7 earning £24.94 per hour would receive £33.25 per hour at time and a third, and £49.88 per hour at double time.

Detective inspectors and above are salaried and do not receive paid overtime. Overtime is never pensionable.

Take-Home Pay After Tax, NI and Pension

Police officers in the 2015 pension scheme contribute a significant percentage of their salary. After income tax, National Insurance and pension deductions, the net annual take-home pay for a detective constable at entry is approximately £23,276 (£1,939.64 per month). For a detective inspector at entry, net pay is around £43,381 per year (£3,615.09 per month).

These figures assume a standard tax code (1257L) and no student loan or other deductions. Actual take-home will vary.

How Detective Salary Compares to National Benchmarks

The UK median full-time gross annual pay is about £39,039 (ONS ASHE), equivalent to £20.02 per hour at 37.5 hours per week. A detective constable at PP1 (£32,256) earns below the median, but by PP6 (£44,544) they exceed it. The National Living Wage for those aged 21+ is £12.71 per hour (2026/27), so even the lowest detective hourly rate (£15.47) is well above the minimum.

For more context on how police pay compares with other public sector roles, read our salary articles.

Key Takeaways

• Detective salary is identical to uniformed police pay by rank.
• Full-time hours are 40 per week; hourly rate = annual ÷ 2,085.6.
• London weighting adds £10,079 per year for Met and City of London officers.
• Overtime is available for constables and sergeants at enhanced rates.
• Take-home pay after pension, tax and NI is significantly lower than gross.

If you're considering a move into detective work or comparing an hourly job offer, use our Hourly to Salary converter to see the annual picture. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance for the most accurate figures.