Senior police officers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time senior police officers in the UK earned a median £66,690 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 71% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 12th of 382 occupations on this measure.
Median full-time pay: women £63,280 a year, men £67,346 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 15,000 employee jobs, 100% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 13.3%, from £58,872, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 11,000 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £1,197.90* | £28.68 | – | £965.20* | £27.60* |
| 20th percentile | £63,526 | £1,230.40 | £31.17 | £63,140 | £1,222.70 | £30.63 |
| 25th percentile | £64,166 | £1,252.50 | £31.35 | £63,761 | £1,239.50 | £31.27 |
| 30th percentile | £64,824 | £1,263.40 | £31.66 | £64,456 | £1,254.00 | £31.51 |
| 40th percentile | £65,321 | £1,268.70 | £32.26 | £65,221 | £1,268.30 | £32.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £66,690 | £1,297.20 | £33.59 | £66,514 | £1,285.30 | £33.57 |
| 60th percentile | £67,416 | £1,345.50 | £34.22 | £67,305 | £1,343.80 | £34.16 |
| 70th percentile | £69,397* | £1,370.10 | £34.34 | £69,332* | £1,368.70 | £34.33 |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,371.00* | £34.48* | – | – | £34.46* |
| Mean | £74,687 | £1,388.90 | £35.05 | £72,518 | £1,351.50 | £34.74 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £58,872 | £1,151.10 | £29.04 | £58,872 | £1,151.10 | 10* |
| 2022 revised | £58,890 | £1,130.40 | £27.96 | £58,890 | £1,130.40 | 9* |
| 2023 revised | £59,060 | £1,173.60 | £29.34 | £59,060 | £1,173.60 | 8* |
| 2024 revised | £63,990 | £1,246.50 | £30.66 | £63,990 | £1,244.60 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £66,690 | £1,297.20 | £33.59 | £66,514 | £1,285.30 | 15* |
Senior police officers by region
UK: 11,000 (± 4,100), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What senior police officers do
Senior police officers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources and activities of a specific geographical or functional area of generalised or specialised police work. Senior officers of the British Transport Police direct the specialised police service for the railway network across Britain. (ONS SOC 2020, 1162)
Also covers: chief superintendent (police service), CID officer, detective inspector, police inspector, chief inspector, chief superintendent, divisional inspector, police superintendent, assistant chief constable, deputy chief constable and police chief superintendent.
- Liaises with senior officers to determine staff, financial and other short- and long-term needs
- Plans, directs and co-ordinates general policing for an area or functional unit
- Directs and monitors the work of subordinate officers
- Establishes contacts and sources of information concerning crimes planned or committed
- Directs and co-ordinates the operation of record keeping systems and the preparation of reports
Promotion to the rank of inspector can be by qualifying examination and practical assessment. There are no qualifying examinations to ranks above inspector; promotion is by selection only. There are accelerated promotion schemes available as well as the Direct Entry scheme which recruits external entrants with relevant skills directly to senior positions in the police force. All police forces have age restrictions and medical requirements.
Related
Senior officers in protective services (median £66,432) · Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services · Health services and public health managers and directors · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026