FCDO salary 2026/27
What Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office pays at each grade, and what it leaves you after tax, National Insurance and the alpha pension. Pick your grade in the calculator or enter your own salary.
FCDO pay by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £31,250 | £2,072 | 13 of 73 |
| EO | £36,500 | £2,351 | 21 of 92 |
| HEO | £44,080* | £2,778 | 16 of 93 |
| SEO | £52,160* | £3,243 | 24 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £64,240* | £3,749 | 39 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £76,800* | £4,310 | 52 of 84 |
| SCS | £93,690 | £5,064 | 33 of 58 |
Median full-time salary at 31 March 2026 from Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics. * Our estimate from the official 2026 figure for the combined level and the 2025 figure for the grade. Rank compares FCDO with every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade. Take-home is full time, alpha member, tax code 1257L, no student loan.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. FCDO may also pay more in London and for specialist roles, and most departments have paid a 2026/27 award since 31 March 2026.
Common questions
How much does an AO earn at FCDO?
The median AO salary at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was £31,250 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,072 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at FCDO?
The median EO salary at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was £36,500 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,351 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at FCDO?
The median HEO salary at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was about £44,080 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £2,778 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does FCDO pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At HEO, FCDO ranks 16 of 93 departments that publish a figure. At Grade 6 it ranks 52 of 84.
What pension do FCDO staff get?
Civil servants join the alpha pension scheme. You pay 4.6% to 8.05% of your pay depending on what you earn, and build 2.32% of your pensionable pay as pension each year.