Understanding Police Officer Salary UK Per Hour

When researching a police officer salary UK per hour, it is important to consider the official pay scales, typical working hours, and additional allowances such as London weighting. Police pay is set by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and implemented by the Home Office. The most recent confirmed figures, effective from 1 September 2025, show a consolidated increase of 4.2% for federated and superintending ranks.

Police Pay Scales (from September 2025)

According to the Home Office evidence to the PRRB for 2026-27, the salary ranges for each rank are as follows:

• Constable: £31,164 (minimum) to £50,256 (maximum)
• Sergeant: £53,568 to £56,208
• Inspector: £63,768 to £68,982
• Chief Inspector: £70,344 to £73,149
• Superintendent: £84,177 to £99,015
• Chief Superintendent: £103,797 to £115,785

These are full-time equivalent salaries. The constable rank has seven pay points, starting at £31,164 and rising incrementally to £50,256.

Converting Annual Salary to Hourly Rate

To work out a police officer salary UK per hour, you need to know the standard full-time hours. For police officers, the typical working week is 40 hours (as referenced in the Police Regulations for part-time members, where the maximum is 40 hours per week). Using 52 weeks per year, the annual hours are 2,080.

• Constable starting: £31,164 ÷ 2,080 = £14.98 per hour
• Constable top: £50,256 ÷ 2,080 = £24.16 per hour
• Sergeant minimum: £53,568 ÷ 2,080 = £25.75 per hour
• Inspector minimum: £63,768 ÷ 2,080 = £30.66 per hour

These figures are base rates before any overtime, shift allowances, or London weighting.

London Weighting

Officers in the City of London and Metropolitan Police forces receive an annual London weighting of £3,150 (from September 2025). This is added to the base salary. For a starting constable, the total becomes £34,314, which equates to approximately £16.50 per hour. The weighting is paid as a flat sum, not as a percentage, so it has a proportionally larger impact on lower ranks.

Overtime and Additional Payments

Police officers frequently work overtime, which is paid at enhanced rates (typically time-and-a-half or double time). This can significantly increase the effective hourly earnings. However, the base salary figures above do not include overtime. When comparing a police officer salary UK per hour to other roles, it is important to consider that police work often involves unsocial hours, public holidays, and rest-day working, all of which attract additional pay.

Part-Time Police Officers

Part-time officers have their hourly rate calculated using a formula set out in Annex F of the Police Regulations: hourly rate = annual salary × 6/12520. For a constable on £31,164, this gives approximately £14.94 per hour – very close to the full-time calculation. Part-time officers are paid for each hour worked up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Comparison with UK Median Earnings

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for April 2025 reported median gross annual earnings for full-time employees of £39,039, and median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of £19.67. A starting police constable’s base hourly rate of £14.98 is below this median, but with London weighting it rises to £16.50. Higher ranks such as sergeant (£25.75 per hour) and above exceed the national median. It is also worth noting that the National Living Wage for employees aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025, so even the lowest police starting rate is above the legal minimum.

Using the Hourly to Salary Calculator

If you are considering a career in policing or comparing offers, our Hourly to Salary tool can help you convert any hourly rate into annual, monthly, and weekly figures. You can adjust the hours per week to match a typical police shift pattern (e.g., 40 hours) and see estimated take-home pay after tax and National Insurance. For more detailed pay data across different sectors, visit our salary data page.

Key Takeaways

• A police officer salary UK per hour depends on rank, pay point, and location.
• Full-time constables start at about £14.98 per hour (£31,164 annually) based on a 40-hour week.
• London weighting adds £3,150 per year, raising the hourly rate to around £16.50 for Met and City officers.
• Overtime and allowances can boost total earnings significantly.
• Police pay is reviewed annually by the PRRB, so figures may change.

Always check your contract and the latest official guidance from GOV.UK for the most up-to-date pay scales.