MET POLICE PAY SCALES, SALARIES & BENEFITS
THE GRADS WHO CHOOSE US WANT MORE
More than a 9 to 5 and more than a regular graduate scheme.
If you’re interested in Met Police jobs and you want a career that allows you to rise through the ranks while increasing your salary and improving your future career prospects, then policing could be for you.
Police Now graduates see the difference they’re making each day: in communities, in society and in individual lives – as a neighbourhood police officer within the London Metropolitan Police.
We are here to support you whilst you navigate a new Met Police career and to help you maximise your potential.
People who thrive in this neighbourhood role enjoy a dynamic working environment. Typical shift patterns mean that you’ll work hard, but also enjoy your time off, getting four days off after working your four-day shift which can include nights. So, if you plan your time effectively you can have a good work/life balance and still enjoy all the things you currently do outside of work.
Police Now benefits designed just for you
You’ll get a whole host of Police Now benefits unique to our national graduate programmes:
Met Police Salary
- Your salary starts when you begin the Police Now Academy.
- You can expect a starting salary as a neighbourhood police officer of £36,775 rising to £37,975 at week 30.
- Your salary will increase each year up to over £54,000 within seven years.
- Some of our graduates seek promotion after they have successfully completed our two-year programme (a process we can help you with).
Met Police Pension
When you start as a new police constable you’ll automatically be enrolled as a member of the Police Pension Scheme 2015, which is considered to be among the best around. This isn’t compulsory and you can opt out if you wish.
Met Police Leave
- You’ll start with 22 days paid annual holiday, rising to 30 days a year with length of service.
- This is on top of public holidays and four days off after working your four-day shift which can include nights. You can also expect other forms of leave including maternity, paternity and adoption leave and the option of taking a career break of up to five years.
Met Police: Police Now personal support and advice
Once you have been offered a position on our programme, you will have:
- A dedicated Recruitment Officer who will offer support and advice for you on your journey right the way up to your start date. Your Recruitment Officer will assist you with all stages of your onboarding into force: your vetting, medical tests, fitness tests, references and induction days. As well as this, our curriculum team will be on-hand to help you with your pre-academy core learning.
- Access to Performance and Development Coaches who’ll work with you over the two-year programme on your personal and professional development.
- A Police Now national peer network to learn from and share experiences with. Over 2,000 Police Now graduates are on or have completed one of our programmes. They share ideas, innovations and experiences to solve society’s problems before they happen. You can benefit from on-the-job experiences and knowledge that makes a real impact, building your peer network and transforming communities as you build your career.
- Our specially designed seven-week Police Now Academy to give you a unique and intensive preparation for life in-force.
- The opportunity for support through the promotion process when you complete the programme with our Frontline Leadership Programme and other informal opportunities for ongoing development.
Met Police jobs: Flexible working
The police service is an emergency service operating 24/7 and 365 days a year.
However, it is always the intention of the police service to take your individual religious and cultural needs into account so you can fit your work around your personal commitments.
Met Police: Healthcare
The Met Police offers the opportunity to join a contributory private healthcare scheme. You will also benefit from free eye tests and glasses if you regularly use a computer.
Financial services discounts
There are various partner organisations who work with the police service to offer a variety of financial services including saving, investment and protection products, as well as discounts and subsidies.
Many major high street stores, retail outlets and other national organisations offer discounts and special deals to police officers. Most police forces also provide access to a number of subsidised leisure and sporting activities as well.
Met Police jobs: Training and development
We offer development and coaching from our Performance and Development Coaches who you will have access to on the programme.
There will also be regular training, events and skills sessions to ensure you are continuously learning and developing.
MET POLICE PAY SCALES, SALARIES & BENEFITS: Q&A
Why join the Met Police?
By joining the Met through the Police Now grad scheme, you’re playing a vital role in safeguarding one the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities, contributing to public safety and community wellbeing while enjoying a wide range of career opportunities and professional development within the force.
We appreciate there are other factors that go into making your decision to join, such as salary, annual leave entitlement, pension and other benefits that affect your wellbeing.
How much do Met police officers get paid?
When you join the Met Police through Police Now as a neighbourhood police officer, you can expect a starting salary of £36,775 rising to £37,975 at week 30. (Salary including allowances.)
Your salary will increase to £39,181 after two years, upon satisfactory completion of probation. (Salary including allowances.)
Met Police pay scales: What are they?
Metropolitan Police pay scales in London vary based on several factors, including rank, experience and location within London. Pay scales could also be subject to annual increases and adjustments.
Different roles attract different salaries based on a range of factors. The Met has seven basic pay bands, plus allowances:
- B and A: £74,002 to £85,474
- B and B: £54,460 to £66,356
- B and C: £42,232 to £50,385
- B and D: £34,448 to £36,864
- B and E: £30,507 to £32,639
- B and F: £27,609 to £29,676
- B and G: £25,900 to £26,154
Met Police roles fit into one of these bands based on a fair and standardised job evaluation system. Each year people move to the next pay point on the scale until reaching the maximum.
To give you a timing ballpark, your salary will increase each year up to over £54,000 within seven years. On promotion to the next police rank – sergeant – you can earn over £57,000. Most officers apply for sergeant after five years as a constable.
Are there additional Met Police allowances?
On top of the salary bands, Met Police staff now receive a location allowance of £1,841 and every year an additional non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
If the role requires shift work, the Met provides a shift disturbance allowance of 12.5%, 15% or 20%, depending on the shift pattern.
It’s important to note that these figures are approximate and can change due to annual pay increases, cost of living adjustments and other factors. Also, salaries for police officers can differ based on location and responsibilities within the force.
What is annual leave at the Met Police like?
- 22 days paid holiday each year, rising to 30 days the longer you work for the Met.
- Public holidays and rest days, on top of leave, are built into your shift pattern.
- Maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Special leave, both paid and unpaid.
- Carers leave, both paid and unpaid.
- Armed forces reservists leave.
Met Police Pension
- Member of the Police Pension Scheme, offering a guaranteed monthly pension based on your salary and optional lump sum.
- Contributions are made by both you and the Met. You’ll receive tax relief on your contributions.
Free and discounted travel
- Free London travel from week 12 of your training programme, including tubes and buses.
- Access heavily discounted rail travel for up to 70 miles from London.
- Interest free season ticket loans.
Health and wellbeing
- Free physiotherapy.
- Health check service.
- 24-hours free confidential helpline.
- Counselling.
- Specialist support from our Occupational Health team.
- Free eyesight tests and a range of frames.
To stay fit
- On-site gym facilities in our buildings across London.
- Four sport clubs’ houses, which offer free or very low cost access to sporting facilities for our officers and their families.
Met Police discounts and benefits
- Access to the Met’s dedicated discount site, offering money off a host of high street shops, grocery shops, days out and gyms.
- Eligibility for Blue Light Card.
Career development and policing specialism within the Met Police
- Ongoing training through courses, mentoring and coaching.
- Promotion and development opportunities into different police specialisms.
- A focus on your continued professional development through a performance review process.
As the UK’s largest police force, the Met offers a range of career development and roles like no other.
This includes:
- Neighbourhood policing.
- Policing major events and demonstrations.
- Carrying a firearm.
- Specialist and major investigations, such as homicide and major crime.
- Dog handlers.
- Mounted officers.
- Patrolling the River Thames on and below the water.
- Counter Terrorism.
London Met Police Support
- Membership of the Police Federation, a national body representing all police officers, through which you can access a range of support.
- Join one of a range of staff support associations in the Met, to support and represent your needs, beliefs and values.
