Police Inspector Salary
Inspector Pay Progression (separate London pay scale + £6,819 LA)
| Pay Point | Outside London | Met / City (London scale + LA) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Point 0 (on appointment) | £66,000 | £75,607 |
| Pay Point 1 | £67,798 | £77,408 |
| Pay Point 2 | £69,589 | £79,221 |
| Pay Point 3 (top) | £71,396 | £81,025 |
The Inspector is the senior federated rank — typically a shift commander or department lead. Inspectors run operational shifts, take command of incidents up to and including critical incidents, and act as the link between front-line federated officers and the superintending ranks.
Promotion requires OSPRE Part II plus NPPF work-based competency, after a minimum two years as a Sergeant. Inspector has 4 service-based pay points, progressing one per year.
Unlike Constables and Sergeants (who get the flat £3,260 LW), Inspectors have a separate London pay scale — different basic figures for officers in the Met / City of London versus outside. On top of that, Met / City Inspectors also receive the £6,819 London Allowance (effective April 2025). The calculator handles both automatically when you select "London" as Force Location.
Inspectors are typically the highest federated rank still eligible for overtime — though specific entitlements vary by force. Most accrue pension under PPS 2015 CARE, contributing 13.44% (£27k–£60k) or 13.78% (£60k+) depending on pay tier.