What is take-home for a Police Sergeant?

On £54,660 gross at pay point 3, with the 13.88% police pension tier that applies between £37,035 and £79,588, take-home is about £37,069 a year or £3,089 a month after Income Tax, NI and pension. London Weighting is paid on top of that.

Is the 13.88% police pension worth it?

Yes - the PPS 2015 CARE accrual at 1/55.3rd is one of the most generous public-sector schemes. A Sergeant contributing 13.88% on £54,660 builds about £988 a year of indexed pension for every year worked. Replicating that privately would cost far more than 13.88% out of net pay.

How much extra does overtime add?

Overtime under Annex G is paid at time and a third. A rest day worked on less than 15 days of notice attracts time and a half, and a public holiday double time; there is no time-and-two-thirds rate. Amounts vary far too much by force and role to quote a typical figure, and it is all taxed at the same marginal rate (42% for most Sergeants above £50,270). Pension does not accrue on overtime, so it is pure cash.

Police Sergeant Salary 2026/27: Take-Home After Tax + Pension

Sergeant is the first supervisory rank above Constable. Pay in England and Wales runs across three pay points, £53,568 to £56,208, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026 - below the 3.9% the Police Remuneration Review Body recommended - and the revised pay points are not published yet.

Typical pay & take-home

Median gross: £54,660
Typical range: £53,568–£56,208
Take-home at median: £42,260 England, no pension applied — use the salary calculator for your scheme.

At the median for this profession, you earn about 40% above the UK full-time median (£39,039), placing you in the top 25% of UK earners.

See exact take-home for £54,660 →

What influences police sergeant pay

Sergeant pay is recommended annually by the Police Remuneration Review Body and given effect by the Home Secretary through determinations under the Police Regulations. The scale has three pay points, 2 to 4, and service moves you up one point a year to the ceiling. London forces pay London Weighting on top, £3,150 on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. It was uplifted by 3.5% from 1 September and the revised amount is not yet published.

The whole Sergeant scale sits above the £50,270 higher-rate threshold, so every pound of base pay is in 40% Income Tax territory at a 42% marginal rate once the 2% NI band is included.

Police Pension Scheme 2015 contribution at Sergeant pay is 13.88% (Tier 2 from 1 April 2026, applying to pensionable pay between £37,035 and £79,588). The CARE scheme accrues 1/55.3rd of pensionable earnings as indexed pension - the employer contribution rate is 35.3%.

Career progression

Constable point 1: £31,164.
Constable point 7 (top of scale): £50,256.
Sergeant point 2 (entry to rank): £53,568.
Sergeant point 4 (top of scale): £56,208.
Inspector point 0 next: £63,768.

Frequently asked questions

What is take-home for a Police Sergeant?: On £54,660 gross at pay point 3, with the 13.88% police pension tier that applies between £37,035 and £79,588, take-home is about £37,069 a year or £3,089 a month after Income Tax, NI and pension. London Weighting is paid on top of that.
Is the 13.88% police pension worth it?: Yes - the PPS 2015 CARE accrual at 1/55.3rd is one of the most generous public-sector schemes. A Sergeant contributing 13.88% on £54,660 builds about £988 a year of indexed pension for every year worked. Replicating that privately would cost far more than 13.88% out of net pay.
How much extra does overtime add?: Overtime under Annex G is paid at time and a third. A rest day worked on less than 15 days of notice attracts time and a half, and a public holiday double time; there is no time-and-two-thirds rate. Amounts vary far too much by force and role to quote a typical figure, and it is all taxed at the same marginal rate (42% for most Sergeants above £50,270). Pension does not accrue on overtime, so it is pure cash.

Getting into this job

How to become a police officer in England and Wales

The six ways into policing in England and Wales, which ones pay you from the day you join, and every federated pay point with real take-home.

All UK professions →