PSNI Pay Scales 2026: Constable Pay & NITA

PSNI officer pay follows recommendations from the Police Remuneration Review Body, which issues a separate Northern Ireland report to the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice; determinations are made under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and base pay scales are broadly aligned with England and Wales at each rank.

Because PSNI base scales track England and Wales, a constable progresses through the same scale points. The most significant difference from England and Wales is the Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance, set out below.

On top of base pay, PSNI officers receive the Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance (NITA): a non-pensionable allowance (£4,283 from 1 September 2025, paid to all ranks up to and including chief constable) that reflects the distinctive operational and security context of policing in Northern Ireland — it is not a cost-of-living supplement.

Because NITA is non-pensionable it is taxable but does not increase pension contributions or benefits. When comparing PSNI pay with an England and Wales force, add NITA to the base scale but treat it as non-pensionable.

For the current PSNI pay scales, on-call and unsocial-hours specifics, the detective and specialist allowances and how the structure differs from England and Wales, see the dedicated PSNI pay page. Always verify figures with your own payslip, the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) or PSNI HR — BlueLineHub is an independent resource and cannot guarantee specific figures.