Police officers (sergeant and below) Pay Data UK — 2025

Police officers (sergeant and below) roles in the UK earn a median of £50,000 per year, equivalent to £23.87 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 8.3% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £47,000 in Wales to £51,500 in Scotland. Pay has risen over the past 4 years.

Labour Market

Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.

Pay by Region

Annual pay for Police officers (sergeant and below) across UK regions. The bar shows the typical pay range (25th–75th percentile); the diamond marks the median.

Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).

How Pay Has Changed Over Time

Annual pay grew by +8.3% from 2024 to 2025.

National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot. Shaded band shows 25th–75th percentile range.

Year-on-Year Pay Change

Annual percentage change in median pay for Police officers (sergeant and below).

Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.

About Police officers (sergeant and below)

Police officers (sergeant and below) co-ordinate and undertake the investigation of crimes, patrol public areas, arrest offenders and suspects and enforce law and order. Officers of the British Transport Police operate within the specialised police service for the railway network across britain.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• receives instructions from senior officers and patrols an assigned area on foot, horseback, motorcycle, motor car or boat to check security and enforce regulations
• directs and controls traffic or crowds at demonstrations and large public events
• investigates complaints, crimes, accidents, any suspicious activities or other incidents
• interviews suspects, takes statements from witnesses and stops, searches and/or arrests suspects
• attends accidents
• prepares briefs or reports for senior officers
• works on station reception desk and or in communications room
• gives evidence in court cases

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no academic requirements for entry to the civilian (Home Office) police although eligibility criteria vary across individual police forces. Entrants must sit an entry test and pass a medical examination. All police officers undergo a two year probationary training period. Residency, nationality and age restrictions apply, and background security checks are carried out in respect of entrants. Entrants may join via the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.